Factors contributing to high rate of teen pregnancy in Mtwara region, Tanzania

Abstract

Background

Pregnancies, abortion at early stages, early sexuality, and high rate of HIV infection became a major area of concern in Africa particular in sub Saharan Africa. However, an effort to understand teenager's sexual behavior and prevent young girls from reproductive health problems is almost none existing. In Tanzania pregnancy is one of the major reasons for school dropout among teenage girls. In 2007, pregnancy accounted to 21.9 % of secondary schools drop out. Mtwara Region is one of the leading areas in Tanzania for teenage pregnancy. Statistics show that school dropout caused by pregnancy has increased from 5.2 percent in 2003 to 21.9 percent in 2007 (BEST).

Objective

This study had the general objective of assessing the social cultural factors for teen ager pregnancies in Mtwara Municipality.

Methods

The study involved a total of 186 respondents from Mtwara Municipal in Railway Ward. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. Household schedules were drawn up listing the basic demographic information about all the occupants of selected household and identify eligible respondents (those under age of 19). All eligible respondents in each selected household were interviewed. Due to time limit two attempts were made to interview respondents, if they were still missing the respondents were substituted.

Findings

Majority of teenagers in Mtwara Municipality are exposed to high risk of early pregnancies, exually Transmitted Diseases and HIV due to the fact that sexual activity among youth in the region is a common conduct. Findings reveal that 42(56%) of male respondents and 63(56.7%)

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of female respondents were sexual active. The median age at first sex was 15 years of age. The findings reveal the social cultural reasons for teen pregnancies among other things are poor parental monitoring, pressure from peer group, and sexual feelings among individuals. The introduction of ward secondary school that force teens to hire a room far from their parents has also revealed as one of the reasons for increasing sexual activity among teens. Finally, the study found out that there was a positive relationship between social cultural factors and high rate of teenage pregnancies.

Conclusion and recommendations

It is suggested from these research findings; therefore, that high rate of teen pregnancies is not only due to economic and low knowledge about sexuality but also due to other social factors that affect day to day life of the teenagers. Teen pregnancies are due to unprotected and early sexual intercourse which also exposes teenagers to other risks of contacting Sexual Transmitted Infections and other sexual diseases such as HIV AIDS.

Recommendation

Prevention of teenage from having sexual intercourse at early stage stages is very important interventions in preventing pregnancies at early ages. This stud recommends that education on sexuality, its impacts and uses of contraceptives' to be provided in primary school at early grades.

Programs targeting attitudes and social norms that facilitate sexual activities among the youth should be encouraged. Stronger emphasis on secondary school students is vital.

evertheless, educational programs that promote sexuality education to teenager who are sexually immature are highly encouraged. This is because it might be too late to introduce such a program for teens who are sexually active about prevention methods for unwanted pregnancies.

Parents/guardian play a vital role in sexual life of their teens. Parents should be encouraged to educate, discuss issues related to sexuality with their children direct or indirect. Parents and guardians should be educated about the prone and cons of doing or not doing so.