ONGWEDIVA – The number of learners who fell pregnant last year in the Ohangwena region dropped to 681, compared to the previous three years, all to the credit of Life Skills teachers.
The region has notoriously gained popularity for high pregnancies among teenagers, particularly those of school-going age.
The latest figures were revealed by Ohangwena education director Isak Hamatwi last week.
The authorities in the region have described the situation as a crisis.
Hamatwi stated that his region has dedicated Life Skills teachers who provide comprehensive sexual education in schools.
“This education covers reproductive health, contraception, relationships, consent,and the risks of early pregnancy,” he noted.
In addition, the director said the region has been doing well to engage local leaders, parents and community members in discussions about teenage pregnancy.
Hamatwi said Life Skills teachers furthermore offer counselling services to help learner mothers cope with stress, emotional challenges and any other social stigma they might face.
“By providing these forms of support, schools can help ensure that learner mothers have the opportunity to complete their education, build a better future for themselves and their children, and overcome the challenges of being both a student and a mother,” he added.
Many pregnant teenagers are forced to drop out of school due to stigma, lack of support, or the responsibility of raising a child.
“Learners often struggle to concentrate on their studies due to physical discomfort, stress and financial burdens. Pregnancy-related health issues, doctors’ appointments and childcare responsibilities lead to frequent school absences,” the director continued.
Hamatwi said teenage mothers may experience anxiety, depression or low self-esteem, which affects their ability to focus and succeed in education.
In rural areas, whether learners return to school after giving birth depends on several factors, including cultural beliefs and family support.
“Many teenage mothers do not return to school due to stigma, family responsibilities or financial difficulties. Some families and communities discourage young mothers from continuing their education, expecting them to focus on motherhood,” he stated, indicating that many learners lack proper information about reproductive health, contraception and the consequences of early pregnancy.
This contributed to high teenage pregnancy.
“There’s also poverty and peer pressure by friends to engage in early sexual activity,” he said.
In 2021, Ohangwena recorded 1 261 teenage pregnancies, while in 2022, 820 pregnancies were recorded. In 2023, the number dropped to 755.
All in all, the region has recorded a total of 9 077 girls below the age of 19 who fell pregnant between January 2020 and April last year.
Over the years, teenage pregnancy has been a thorn in the flesh for authorities and parents alike.
Teenage pregnancy has serious long-term effects. Pregnant teenagers frequently encounter challenges, including disrupted education, limited professional options and major medical concerns such as pre-term labour, hypertension and post-partum bleeding.
Statistics show that teenage pregnancy shot up by over 130% between 2019 and 2021.
Last year, a dramatic increase in pregnancy-related school dropouts, from
1 560 in 2019 to 3 658 in 2021, was reported.
The figures have led to urgent calls for a renewed focus on prevention, education and support systems.
Additionally, the United Nations Population Fund in Namibia reported that the teenage pregnancy rate had reached a troubling 19% in 2017, meaning nearly one in five teenage girls in the country was affected.
Reports show that in the Zambezi region alone, 147 teenagers fell pregnant during the first term of last year.
Several factors may contribute to this rising trend, with the lack of comprehensive sex education being a major concern.
Since Namibian independence, the Ministry of Education has standardised comprehensive sex education (CSE). CSE is supposed to be taught in all State schools to help learners understand not just the physical implications of sexual intercourse, but also the emotional and social effects.
fhamalwa@nepc.com.na