Nigeria has faced an awful problem of teenage pregnancy. The situation is almost the worst in the world. So, what are the reasons? What should be done to improve the current situation? These and other related urgent issues will be illuminated in the article.
_Statistics data_
Developed and developing countries have got the different frequency of teenage pregnancy. The charity organization report ‘Help Kids’ detected that in 2004 females up to 20 years of age give birth to 13 million children among 130 million labors a year. More than 90 % of these labors affect the inhabitants of developing and low-income countries. Nigeria is among them.
According to data of the World Health Organization, more than 16 million girls from 15 to 19 years old are becoming mothers and 2 million of even younger teenagers give births yearly.
As everybody knows, African women get married much earlier than females from other continents. That historically set tradition leads to early pregnancies and various pregnancy- and labor-related diseases.
In 1996 the highest rate of teenage pregnancy was noticed, unfortunately, in African countries: 143 out of 1000 women at the age of 15-19 years became young mothers. In 2002 the rate almost doubled and was 223 teens of 15-19 years out of 1000 women.
The charity organization ‘Help Kids’ identified 10 countries where being a mother were extremely hazardous for adolescents and their children. So, they are Nigeria, Niger, Liberia, Mali and other Sub-Saharan countries of Africa. Sad statistics information stipulates that 1 of 6 teenage girls from 15-19 years old gives birth yearly and approximately 1 child of 7 born by this adolescent dies before the first birthday.
On average, about 16 million teenagers (15-19 years old) give birth to children every single year and it constitutes 11 % of labors throughout the world. 95 % of labors take place in low- and middle-income countries. Notably, that the average rate of teenage labors in middle-income economies exceeds twice the analogical rate of the high-income countries. Concerning the low-income countries, the rate exceeds fivefold. This disheartening information may frighten a reader but the reality is so cruel. For instance, the proportion of adolescent labors constitutes about 2% in China, 18 % in Latin America and the Caribbean and MORE than 50 % in Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa!!! Percents are awful!
The proportion of pregnant women up to the age of 15 varies drastically within regions. For instance, in Sub-Saharan Africa, Rwanda, it constitutes 0,3% and in Mozambique, it is 12,2%. As for Nigeria, the situation is very tough.
In 2008, Nigeria was the first African country with adolescent pregnancy: 121 live births out of 1000 births. According to information of 2006, more than 44 million of young Nigerians from 10 – 24 years were pregnant. Unbelievably! Starting from 10 years old… Thus, teen pregnancy turns to be the crucial problem of modern Nigeria. It kills young girls, makes them and their kids suffer…
Health risks of teenage pregnancy
As it was mentioned above, teens of 10 to 19 years old constitute 11 % of labors in the world, however, that is not all. These girls have to go through probable diseases (23 %) caused by pregnancy complications and labor.
Women (15-19 years) of low- and middle-income economies have illegal abortions that constitute 14%. As we know, bad luck comes in threes and it means that teen mothers have more problems than it might seem. It concerns their health, first of all. Being in despair they often have abortions, illegal as a rule, in poor sanitary conditions. This also leads to other illnesses. For example, in Latin America, the maternal mortality risk among young girls (up to 16 years) is four times higher than the analogical one among more mature women (20-29 years).
It is known that lots of health problems are connected with negative consequences of teen pregnancy. So, the most probable illnesses are:
-malaria;
-anemia;
-HIV;
-postpartum hemorrhage;
-mental disorders like depression;
-sexually transmitted diseases, etc.
The teens can also constitute up to 65 % of all cases of obstetric fistula development that causes disastrous consequences in social and physical spheres of life. The list of labor- and pregnancy-related illnesses is not full. It is just the tip of the iceberg.
Teen pregnancy is also risky for a baby
Mothers younger than 20 put at risk their children’s lives too. So, the rates of stillbirth and death during the first week of life are 50 % higher than the analogical rates of older mothers (20-29 years) and their babies.
The first baby’s month of life is also may be tough to go through because death cases happen more often in the families where mothers are teens. So, the younger mother is, the higher risk may be.
The rates of pre-term birth, low body weight and asphyxia (suffocation) of newborns are much higher too when you are not a mature person. All these factors increase chances of a baby’s death or his/her health problems in the future.
Moreover, pregnant adolescents may smoke and drink alcohol oftener than adults in the family way. This affects hazardously a fetus and baby similarly.
Teen pregnancy has got a bad influence on community
Many pregnant girls have to quit studying owing to their delicate condition. It affects their families, personal lives and community they are in for a long term. So, research shows that pregnancy postponement to a more suitable age may decrease the birth immensely and it has got significant economic and social advantages, in addition to teens’ health improvement.
Two or three last decades showed that the rate of adolescent labors has remarkably decreased in many countries and regions. The age at first marriage and the rate of contraceptive use among married and single female adolescents became higher. It is directly connected with the fact that in many countries it had been introduced a special course of sexual education. Thus, the level of awareness of this issue becomes much better. Thus, let’s sum up: poor education and illiteracy lead to early pregnancy and health problems.
Reasons
Unfortunately, nothing has improved in Nigeria so far. The number of pregnant girls is drastic. It is rising every single day. What are the causes of it? Let’s see and figure out the most apparent reasons:
poverty;
*sexual abuse and violence;
*cultural and religious traditions;
*unawareness of personal rights;
*ignorance;
*lack of special establishments for teen rights protection and medical establishments with a high service level.
All these depressing factors together ruin lives of the youth and jeopardize newborns. The main question is how to help the teens? How to prevent early pregnancy and labors in Nigeria?
What should be done to improve the situation?
Well, it requires a lot to do. Nigeria has to become more up-to-date and to move with the times.
1. First of all, every teen should get the sexual education at school like it is being practiced at other spots. The youth should get to know what contraceptives exist, what they are for and how they must be used.
2. Secondly, the contraceptives must be available anywhere (even at the most godforsaken places on a map) and they must be at reasonable prices or for free (it would be the best option!).
3. Thirdly, the customs of early marriages should be forgotten. Let the children enjoy their childhood completely. Do not rob the years of carelessness and youth organizing early marriages and delving kids into a sad reality.
4. And the last issue: love and take care of your kids, talk to them, explain each question they are interested in, do not leave them along with problems or challenges. Keep them safe from any threats.
The statics of early pregnancy and labors in Nigeria makes us think of the ways to improve the existing awful situation and prevent probable negative consequences. These may occur to youngsters that are not ready for responsibility burden and some serious health problems yet. Only raising the level of the whole nation some changes may begin.
Above all, educated and broad-minded Nigerians have to action over inaction. They should conduct interviews with adolescents and ‘unenlightened’ adults on this urgent issue; explain the need for contraception and birth control. All Nigerians have to shake things up and confront the problem of the teen pregnancy.
_Statistics data_
Developed and developing countries have got the different frequency of teenage pregnancy. The charity organization report ‘Help Kids’ detected that in 2004 females up to 20 years of age give birth to 13 million children among 130 million labors a year. More than 90 % of these labors affect the inhabitants of developing and low-income countries. Nigeria is among them.
According to data of the World Health Organization, more than 16 million girls from 15 to 19 years old are becoming mothers and 2 million of even younger teenagers give births yearly.
As everybody knows, African women get married much earlier than females from other continents. That historically set tradition leads to early pregnancies and various pregnancy- and labor-related diseases.
In 1996 the highest rate of teenage pregnancy was noticed, unfortunately, in African countries: 143 out of 1000 women at the age of 15-19 years became young mothers. In 2002 the rate almost doubled and was 223 teens of 15-19 years out of 1000 women.
The charity organization ‘Help Kids’ identified 10 countries where being a mother were extremely hazardous for adolescents and their children. So, they are Nigeria, Niger, Liberia, Mali and other Sub-Saharan countries of Africa. Sad statistics information stipulates that 1 of 6 teenage girls from 15-19 years old gives birth yearly and approximately 1 child of 7 born by this adolescent dies before the first birthday.
On average, about 16 million teenagers (15-19 years old) give birth to children every single year and it constitutes 11 % of labors throughout the world. 95 % of labors take place in low- and middle-income countries. Notably, that the average rate of teenage labors in middle-income economies exceeds twice the analogical rate of the high-income countries. Concerning the low-income countries, the rate exceeds fivefold. This disheartening information may frighten a reader but the reality is so cruel. For instance, the proportion of adolescent labors constitutes about 2% in China, 18 % in Latin America and the Caribbean and MORE than 50 % in Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa!!! Percents are awful!
The proportion of pregnant women up to the age of 15 varies drastically within regions. For instance, in Sub-Saharan Africa, Rwanda, it constitutes 0,3% and in Mozambique, it is 12,2%. As for Nigeria, the situation is very tough.
In 2008, Nigeria was the first African country with adolescent pregnancy: 121 live births out of 1000 births. According to information of 2006, more than 44 million of young Nigerians from 10 – 24 years were pregnant. Unbelievably! Starting from 10 years old… Thus, teen pregnancy turns to be the crucial problem of modern Nigeria. It kills young girls, makes them and their kids suffer…
Health risks of teenage pregnancy
As it was mentioned above, teens of 10 to 19 years old constitute 11 % of labors in the world, however, that is not all. These girls have to go through probable diseases (23 %) caused by pregnancy complications and labor.
Women (15-19 years) of low- and middle-income economies have illegal abortions that constitute 14%. As we know, bad luck comes in threes and it means that teen mothers have more problems than it might seem. It concerns their health, first of all. Being in despair they often have abortions, illegal as a rule, in poor sanitary conditions. This also leads to other illnesses. For example, in Latin America, the maternal mortality risk among young girls (up to 16 years) is four times higher than the analogical one among more mature women (20-29 years).
It is known that lots of health problems are connected with negative consequences of teen pregnancy. So, the most probable illnesses are:
-malaria;
-anemia;
-HIV;
-postpartum hemorrhage;
-mental disorders like depression;
-sexually transmitted diseases, etc.
The teens can also constitute up to 65 % of all cases of obstetric fistula development that causes disastrous consequences in social and physical spheres of life. The list of labor- and pregnancy-related illnesses is not full. It is just the tip of the iceberg.
Teen pregnancy is also risky for a baby
Mothers younger than 20 put at risk their children’s lives too. So, the rates of stillbirth and death during the first week of life are 50 % higher than the analogical rates of older mothers (20-29 years) and their babies.
The first baby’s month of life is also may be tough to go through because death cases happen more often in the families where mothers are teens. So, the younger mother is, the higher risk may be.
The rates of pre-term birth, low body weight and asphyxia (suffocation) of newborns are much higher too when you are not a mature person. All these factors increase chances of a baby’s death or his/her health problems in the future.
Moreover, pregnant adolescents may smoke and drink alcohol oftener than adults in the family way. This affects hazardously a fetus and baby similarly.
Teen pregnancy has got a bad influence on community
Many pregnant girls have to quit studying owing to their delicate condition. It affects their families, personal lives and community they are in for a long term. So, research shows that pregnancy postponement to a more suitable age may decrease the birth immensely and it has got significant economic and social advantages, in addition to teens’ health improvement.
Two or three last decades showed that the rate of adolescent labors has remarkably decreased in many countries and regions. The age at first marriage and the rate of contraceptive use among married and single female adolescents became higher. It is directly connected with the fact that in many countries it had been introduced a special course of sexual education. Thus, the level of awareness of this issue becomes much better. Thus, let’s sum up: poor education and illiteracy lead to early pregnancy and health problems.
Reasons
Unfortunately, nothing has improved in Nigeria so far. The number of pregnant girls is drastic. It is rising every single day. What are the causes of it? Let’s see and figure out the most apparent reasons:
poverty;
*sexual abuse and violence;
*cultural and religious traditions;
*unawareness of personal rights;
*ignorance;
*lack of special establishments for teen rights protection and medical establishments with a high service level.
All these depressing factors together ruin lives of the youth and jeopardize newborns. The main question is how to help the teens? How to prevent early pregnancy and labors in Nigeria?
What should be done to improve the situation?
Well, it requires a lot to do. Nigeria has to become more up-to-date and to move with the times.
1. First of all, every teen should get the sexual education at school like it is being practiced at other spots. The youth should get to know what contraceptives exist, what they are for and how they must be used.
2. Secondly, the contraceptives must be available anywhere (even at the most godforsaken places on a map) and they must be at reasonable prices or for free (it would be the best option!).
3. Thirdly, the customs of early marriages should be forgotten. Let the children enjoy their childhood completely. Do not rob the years of carelessness and youth organizing early marriages and delving kids into a sad reality.
4. And the last issue: love and take care of your kids, talk to them, explain each question they are interested in, do not leave them along with problems or challenges. Keep them safe from any threats.
The statics of early pregnancy and labors in Nigeria makes us think of the ways to improve the existing awful situation and prevent probable negative consequences. These may occur to youngsters that are not ready for responsibility burden and some serious health problems yet. Only raising the level of the whole nation some changes may begin.
Above all, educated and broad-minded Nigerians have to action over inaction. They should conduct interviews with adolescents and ‘unenlightened’ adults on this urgent issue; explain the need for contraception and birth control. All Nigerians have to shake things up and confront the problem of the teen pregnancy.
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