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Health authorities in Machinga have reported that the district has recorded 2151 teen pregnancies out of 8535 pregnancies recorded in the first quarter of the year, representing 25 percent.
The youth-friendly health services coordinator for the district, Ken Mkandawire, has attributed the cases to traditional beliefs, a lack of access to sexual reproductive health services, and distance to health facilities.
Mkandawire says they are promoting social economic activities, behaviour change, communication, and improved access to SRH services to counter the trend.
Mentor Naomi Tenere from Traditional Authority Sale in the district says they target conducting advocacy on the impact of teen marriages and pregnancies among local leaders and parents.
This was said at a peacebuilding and conflict prevention training for mentors, a project being supported by the UN Secretary General’s Peacebuilding Fund through UNFPA and being implemented by Youth Impact and FOCESE.
Source:ZodiakOnline
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