ABOUT 350 000 teenage prǝgnɑncies were recorded in Zimbabwe between 2019 and 2022.
There was a steep increase in prǝgnɑncies among girls and teenagers during that period.
This was reported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA).
In 2021 alone, about 5 000 students were imprǝgnɑted in the first two months of the year.
In 2020, around 4 770 students were forced to leave school due to prǝgnɑncy.
In 2018, about 3 000 girls dropped out of school because of prǝgnɑncy, and the figure remained steady in 2019.
The youngest mother to ever fall prǝgnɑnt in Zimbabwe was an eight-year-old girl, who was allegedly rɑpǝd by two 17-year-old boys.
Despite recent laws that outlaw ƨǝx with minors below 18, the high number of teenage prǝgnɑncies continues in the country.
The UNFPA believes that strengthening the delivery of ƨǝxuɑlity education in schools is key to reducing cases of ƨǝxuɑl exploitation of minors.
UNPFA adolescent ƨǝxuɑl health reproductive specialist in Zimbabwe, Blessing Nyagumbo, said there were about 1.7 million prǝgnɑncies recorded in Zimbabwe between 2019 and 2021.
Of those, 21 percent were adolescents between 10 and 19 years.
“That tells you how devastating the rate of teenage prǝgnɑncies in Zimbabwe is,” said Nyagumbo.
He said ƨǝxuɑl reproductive health education in schools had been identified as key in raising awareness to subsequently reduce cases of ƨǝxuɑl exploitation of minors.
— HMetro
