By Utitifon Idara
In a town of Apomu in Isokun Local Government of Osun State of Nigeria, there is an alarming rate of teenage pregnancy. Some girls between the ages of 13 to 16 are already mothers. The blame is on the mothers who instead of cautioning their children, celebrates them instead thereby emboldening the young girls to want to have babies so as to be celebrated. Their education, future and sometimes health is thwarted.
The sad aspect of the whole thing is that instead of the mothers scolding these girls who are too young to have kids out of wedlock, they are celebrating them by organizing parties, they would buy uniformed materials popularly known as Aso Ebi, throw parties to welcome their grandchildren.
The Queen of Apomu, Olori Janet Afolabi concerned by this development, recently organized an inaugural meeting where she called on members of Apomu community, some Chiefs and the National Youth Service Corp, (NYSC) members serving in Apomu to work on an initiative of curbing teenage pregnancy and creating awareness of the dangers of early childbirth and encouraging girl child education.
She stressed that the Kabiyesi of Apomu land, Oba Adenekan Afolabi has given her the nod to ensure that it she engages the Youth Corpers on a monthly basis to sensitize people of the community especially the women of Apomu, hence the meeting so that the community will be aware of the corps members’ presence so people will not be surprised when they go round to sensitize them.
The Queen noted that Apomu has been regarded as a red zone for teenage pregnancy and some stakeholders have prevailed on her to do something to reduce it. “This has been going on for decades, we can’t stop it totally but can be reduced and that is the step that we are taking now because it is not allowing the children, I still call them children because they are 13,14 and up to 16 who are supposed to be in school are now mothers”’.
“I am not against giving birth but let them attain adulthood so as to know what is really happening to their bodies because they are kids and by then their bodies will be well formed to accept pregnancies and child bearing and delivery which is the most important because of Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF). She added.
I am foreseeing a lot of achievement in three years’ time as many children will be able to go to school unhindered with mothers being aware of the dangers of early pregnancy and childbirth.
Grace Eniola one of the Corps members present at the meeting stated that in some communities, teenage pregnancy is acceptable norm and that family, environment, absent parenting, rape and drugs are the major causes, stating that it affects them psychologically, health, education and career wise and it affects the community as well so that is the reason she is working with the Queen of Apomu to ensure that teenage pregnancy is drastically reduced and this will be done through sensitization of the secondary school students, the women and men of community so they are aware of the dangers and step up to curb reduce and possibly eradicate it.
On if it is acceptable in Apomu land, she said with the right step the queen has taken, and with adequate sensitization and awareness, the community will soon realize the dangers and join hands to stop it.
According to Africa Check, Nigeria records a yearly average of 106 adolescent births per 1,000 populationsas at 2021
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) notes that “Early childbearing, or pregnancy and delivery during adolescence, can derail girls’ otherwise healthy development into adulthood and have negative impacts on their education, livelihoods and health”
“Many girls who are pregnant are pressured or forced to drop out of school, which can impact their educational and employment prospects and opportunities. Early pregnancy and childbearing can also have social consequences for girls, including reduced status in the home and community, stigmatization, rejection and violence by family members, peers and partners, and early and forced marriage”.
UNICEF states that “Adolescent girls, especially those in early adolescence, are particularly vulnerable to the health consequences of pregnancy and delivery as their bodies may not be physically ready”.
