By MN Reporter
Parents in Migori have been urged to stay closer to their children during this holiday to help control high pregnancy rates in the county.
According to reproductive health experts in the County, cases of teen pregnancy, marriage and school dropouts were recorded most during school holidays.
Nancy Oloo a programs coordinator for Jhpiego said parents had neglected their roles towards their children.
“While poverty remains the main contributor to teenage pregnancy and marriage, parents who refuse to mentor their children is a major hindrance,” Nancy Oloo said
She said different stakeholders had stepped in to create awareness among teenagers on the uptake of family planning to control teenage pregnancies, but this will only bear fruits with the support from parents.
A 2015 Kenya National Adolescent and Youth Survey by the National Commission for Population showed that teenage pregnancy was among the main health issues affecting youth people where 49.5% of the Migori population was below 15 years.
The report adds that these health issues among them sexual and gender based violence, HIV/AIDS and drug and substance abuse were caused by “poverty, lack of awareness, lack of reproductive health information and services, and peer pressure.”
Health promotion officer at the Migori Referral Hospital James Oguk said parents have failed in guiding their children from engaging in anti-social behavior like premarital sex.
“Most teenagers have resorted to peers and media to get education on sex, platforms which can never replace parents in raising children,” Oguk said.
Suna West Reproductive health coordinator Moses Ojwang’ named gold mining, boda boda, tobacco and fishing sectors as highest contributors to early pregnancy.
Poverty index in Migori stands at 49.6% according to Kenya Demographic Health Survey of 2014, the latest.
They were speaking in Migori town during a round table discussion on teen reproductive health with journalists from several media houses.
The discussion worked on plans to ensure coverage of stories that will end teen pregnancies in Migori..
