Teenage Pregnancies worry gender expert

Malawi’s gender rights activist Barbra Banda has bemoaned lack of role models and poverty as some of the major factors leading to increase of teenage pregnancies and child marriages in the country.

According to Banda, most girls are forced to drop out of school because of the said factors, a development she described as worrisome.

Banda then suggested that if young girls are being put under serious mentorship, chances are most of them will still be kept in school, thereby minimizing teen pregnancies and child marriages.

Banda said girls should have role models in their lives that can share career guidance in different aspects.

She then called on government to consider introducing different activities in schools and communities which will help in keeping girls busy and productive.