In summary
- Teen parents face challenges while accessing health care.
- Economic opportunities for adolescent pregnant parents are limited
- Teenagers need comprehensive programs and policies that address adolescent pregnancies
77 percent of teenage pregnancies reported in Korogocho slums are Unintended. This is according to the study that was done by African Population and Health Research Center (APRHCR) on lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescent in Korogocho slums.
The study which was done to teen parents from the age of 10 to 19 years aimed to understand driving factors behind early pregnancies.
” The 77 percent of adolescent pregnancies underscores the urgent comprehensive program and policies aimed to address multiple drivers of adolescent pregnancies which include poverty, limited access to sexual and reproductive health information and services and family related factor,” stated study.
Challenges Facing Adolescents
According to the research pregnant and parenting adolescent face challenges while facing maternal health care services including mistreatment and abuse during child birth
” Fear, shame and stigma deterred adolescent girls from seeking antenatal care in their pregnancies, pointing the need of creating youth friendly spaces within health care facilities and proper training of health care providers to offer non- judgmental and respectful care to adolescent mothers,” the research added .
The study also said that adolescent mothers struggle to take care of their babies while dealing with the demand of life this recommending the establishment of low cost day care centers and safe houses in Korogocho.
