The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Miss Koch Kenya, and the Directorate of Children’s Services, Nairobi County, have released a study on the lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescents in Korogocho, an informal settlement in Nairobi.
The research, conducted using a mixed-methods research approach, found that 77% of adolescent pregnancies were unintended. This evidence underscores the urgent need for comprehensive programs and policies aimed at addressing the multiple drivers of adolescent pregnancies, which include poverty, limited access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, and family-related factors.
The study also highlights the challenges faced by pregnant and parenting adolescents aged 10 to 19 years living in while accessing maternal healthcare services. Fear, shame, and stigma deterred adolescent girls from seeking antenatal care early in their pregnancies.
Furthermore, adolescent girls reported mistreatment and abuse during childbirth, pointing to the need to create youth-friendly spaces within healthcare facilities and to train healthcare providers to offer non-judgmental and respectful care to adolescent mothers.
Outside the health care system, adolescent mothers are also at risk for gender-based violence with nearly half reporting intimate partner violence. Urgent measures are therefore required to enhance access to support services and establish effective referral pathways for victims of gender-based violence.
Childcare is a major concern at the moment as adolescent mothers continue to struggle to take care of their babies while dealing with the demands of daily life. The study recommends the establishment of low-cost daycare centers and safe houses in Korogocho and encourages parents to support their adolescent children with childcare.
Economic opportunities for pregnant and parenting adolescents were found to be limited, putting these girls at risk of cyclical poverty. Further, girls reported significant barriers to school re-entry including a hostile school environment and lack of financial support.
To address these challenges, the study recommends the provision of vocational training opportunities, reducing vocational training fees, and offering financial support to parenting adolescents. It is also important to sensitize teachers and students to prevent discrimination, provide financial support for school-related expenses, and offer breastfeeding breaks for parenting girls in school.
The study aimed at understanding the driving factors behind early pregnancy, the experiences of young mothers in healthcare facilities, the impact of adolescent childbearing on health and socioeconomic well-being, and how adolescent boys and girls navigate parenthood.
It also underscores the need for immediate action to support pregnant and parenting, and, the recommendations put forth by the study provide a roadmap for the national and county governments, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders to improve the lives of vulnerable young girls and their children.
