TEENAGE PREGNANCY: Victims describe the trend as dream killer
Jimmie Adzande
Makurdi
The incidences of teenage pregnancy has become high in the Nigerian society.
In Benue State like many other communities in Nigeria, teenage pregnancy has become rampant with myriad of socio-economic consequences.
The Transmitter spoke to some of the victims off camera who lamented their predicaments and called the situation a dream killer.
The young girls said regrettably, that when they fall pregnant they are forced to drop out of school which lowers their chances of finding any reasonable means of livelihood, where they will have to depend on other family members to survive.
However, a mother, Joy Abu said lack of parental care, poverty and inadequate sex education are among the causes of this unwanted trend.
Helen Ayua said the implications of teenage pregnancy are quite grave both for mother and child. The after-effect of these consequences tell a great deal on the economy and society at large. Adding that Teen mothers suffer more from these implications.
Roselyn Zam called on parents, especially mothers to do more in the upbringing of the children, to minimize the cases of child Motherhood.
Experts believe Preventing teenage pregnancy ought to be the collective effort of all stakeholders, including individuals, parents, communities, the media and government. Where they called for age-appropriate sex education and access to modern contraception.
