The War Against Teenage Pregnancy

Recently, outrage was sparked by a report regarding the increase of teenage pregnancies in Namibia. The statistics are quite shocking.

About 46 000 girls fell pregnant in 2013.

In other words, 127 girls are dealing with pregnancy every day, with most hailing from rural areas.

Numbers do not lie – 39% of these girls are below the age of 15.

The relationship between these teenage girls and the fathers of these babies have been analysed, and have shown to result in bouts of depression, loneliness and abandoning school.

Over 45% of girls leave school due to pregnancy while poverty, cultural factors, parental involvement and system factors make up the other 55%.

But what is the solution and who is to be blamed? started a conversation on social media and this is what readers had to say.

“Children having children is disgusting,” Edwin Samule commented. “They have no excuse, they need to get their sh*t together and start focusing on school and not sex. Sex will still be there when they reach that certain grown up age.”

Leorencia Masaka felt parents playing a role in their children’s lives was essential.

“Parents should talk to their children. Sometimes, this also happens when parents are too overprotective and whenever children get a chance to go out, they do what they want because they know they may never get the chance again. Sometimes it’s also the children’s fault. They know what can happen, but they still go ahead.”

Hanayi Shakes Bantwini believes the problem should be resolved at home.

“Everything starts at home. We have to educate young girls and of course boys to abstain because if you come here and say ‘use contraceptives, young people’, that’s like encouraging young ones to have sex. During my school years, we used to laugh and joke about these important and sensitive topics. It shows how small-minded and naive we were. Let us, as parents, set an example to our young ones.”

Albertina Leonard felt that the focus should be on relationships. “There is no choice. Rather than taking life skills as a compulsory subject in school, it should focus on relationships. At least it should start from Grade 4 so that children learn more and understand better how to abstain.”

“Or maybe the world is changing, so schools should be supplied with condoms and teach children how to use them.”

Hanayi disagreed with this. “Distributing condoms will only promote sexual behaviour,” he said.

“Parents should start teaching children to fear God at an early age and the government should put up laws that will give parents rights to discipline them,” Hertz Kanime said.

On the other hand, Foibe Ndilokelwa Ya David looked to her childhood for answers. “When we were growing up, we didn’t know things about sex simply because our parents had time to talk to us. We spent most of our time playing games such as Amagoes.”

But nowadays, she said, children are growing up in cuca shops and watching porn.

“They are growing in overcrowded places where they share rooms with couples. What do you expect from that? Pregnancies at young ages, of course. What needs to be done is that parents need to raise their daughters to grow up as God-fearing women. They need to teach their children about values, self-respect and dignity. Our children will only change when we as parents stand up and do as our great grandparents used to do.”

Christa Hange said all children should be sent to schools and hostels.

“Very strict regulations should be in place and incentives should be given to those children who reach tertiary education and graduate. Parents must talk openly about sex with their children. Churches must come up with youth clubs and educate them about it. It must be considered an abomination to get pregnant at a young age. The government must have campaigns about, it must be taken up seriously.”

Mike Sangombe also had an opinion to share. “It begins at home. If parents are a little strict on their children, this issue will be solved.”

In Loius Shilimela’s opinion, a good relationship with your parents is important. “A relationship is all about communication. If we can talk to our parents about everything, then our parents will direct us on the right path.”

Shawn Davids believes in one solution: “Pray, pray and pray”.

“Critical sex education is a neglected element in schools these days. Children, as young as they’re perceived to be at 14 years of age, are already aware of their bodies and are misled by the constant exposure to romanticised sex.

Thus, sex education needs to be taught to them at a young age. Furthermore, I believe that biblical/moral studies should be reintroduced.

Further believing that parents should be included their children’s lives, Exodus said they should also warn their children about the dangers that surround them.

Lastly, Omsai De Wyk Yatate said “I think parents or guardians should advise their children to be careful in whatever temptation or circumstances they find themselves in, and teachers should also have a say on the issue”.

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