Teen pregnancy stats shock Rehoboth

About 20% of the 681 pregnant women in the Rehoboth district in the Hardap Region are children. According to confidential reports in Namibian Sun's possession, 124 of this figure are girls between 15 and 19 years while seven are girls younger than 15. It also states that seven girls under the age of 15 fell pregnant in 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively, while only four were recorded in 2016. Furthermore, a total of five girls under 15 have sought contraceptives from clinics in the district between January and July this year, while 126 girls aged between 15 and 19 reported for the same service. In 2016, a total of 29 girls younger than 15 went to clinics to seek family planning services, seven in 2015, two in 2014 and three in 2015. The report indicates that the problem is of such magnitude that nurses in the district are compelled to dispense contraceptives to 14-year-old girls without their parents' consent.The report states that five of 379 teenagers aged between 15 and 19 tested positive for HIV between January and August this year. Between January and December 2016 a total of nine teenagers in the same age group tested positive for HIV, ten in 2015 and eight in 2014. Staff at the clinics in the district told Namibian Sun that these figures are but a drop in the ocean, as many do not report for antenatal care or testing. Sugar daddies According to the regional governor, Esme Isaak, very often girls from poor homes say they are forced to engage in sex to obtain money for necessities. Another factor, she says, is the lack of parental involvement in their children's lives. Parents expect teachers to take responsibility for their children's upbringing and education. In an effort to address these social evils, the governor has embarked on an outreach programme to 'return' children to their parents. According to her a fine must be instituted to punish parents whose children are found roaming the streets. “In Mariental, we have started to work closely with the police to assist them on Friday and Saturday evenings. We go out onto the streets and visit shebeens where we have caught schoolchildren. We [usually] put them in a minibus and take them to the police station where we take their names. On Monday we contact their schools to inform their parents,” she said. She added that the operation would soon be extended to the entire Rehoboth district. A Rehoboth-based police officer said this is not necessarily a solution because parents from the wealthy parts of town resist police intervention. “Usually when the parents arrive at the police station they get angry and say their children are not criminals and should not be taken to a police station, but these children are underage, so where do we draw the line?” asked the police officer.“It is also very difficult for us to open cases because sometimes these girls are drugged and cannot recall anything at all.” A local pastor, Dean du Toit, said the blame must be placed on parents who “simply do not care”. According to him family values have been eroded and have made way for social evils to consume teenagers who often have nobody to guide them. “Parents make very little time for their children. In some instances children are exposed to drugs and alcohol outside the home,” he said. The numerous shebeens in neighbourhoods and near schools have been identified as another challenge in keeping children safe and away from alcohol and drugs. A multi-stakeholder approach, which involves the church, the police, local authorities and the ministries of education and child welfare should be involved, one member of the community, who preferred anonymity, told Namibian Sun. “How do I keep my child at home, in front of her books, when there is a shebeen just walking distance from my home? I am at work and the shebeen offers alcohol and sugar daddies who are willing to pay amounts that I cannot provide,” she said.JEMIMA BEUKES

Teen pregnancy stats shock Rehoboth

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-15

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Teen pregnancy stats shock Rehoboth

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-15

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