Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-14 17:11:22
Last year, a shocking 696 adolescent girls were impregnated daily, as reported by National Syndemic Diseases Council CEO, Ruth Laibon-Masha. These findings were highlighted at the 14th Kenya Medical Research Institute Annual Scientific and Health Conference, emphasizing that Kenya still has significant work to do in addressing these issues.
The council’s latest research revealed that 55% of the 1,499,514 pregnancies in the country in 2023 were among adolescents and young women aged 10–24 years. Additionally, 17% of these pregnancies (254,753) were among adolescent girls aged 10–19, amounting to 696 adolescent pregnancies per day. Dr. Laibon-Masha stressed the urgency of addressing these alarming statistics and emphasized the need for effective interventions.
In addition to the high rates of adolescent pregnancies, the fight against HIV continues to be a pressing concern. While Kenya has made remarkable progress in reducing new HIV cases from 101,448 in 2013 to 22,154 in 2022, marking a 78.2% reduction over the last decade, the curve is not flattening fast enough. Dr. Laibon-Masha drew attention to the disproportionate impact of HIV on adolescents and young people aged 15–24, attributing 41% of new adult HIV infections last year to this age group. This highlights the urgency of addressing the specific needs and vulnerabilities of young people in HIV prevention and treatment efforts.
Furthermore, adolescents also faced gender-based violence (GBV) in addition to contracting HIV and unintended pregnancies. Dr. Laibon-Masha revealed that 53,765 cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) were reported at health facilities and rescue centers in 2023, 37% of which were among adolescent girls aged 10–17. She expressed concern over the low reporting rates and emphasized the importance of timely reporting for effective intervention and prevention of further harm, including the risk of HIV transmission.
The overlapping challenges of new HIV cases, unintended pregnancies, and SGBV among adolescent girls and young people have been identified as a “triple threat,” presenting a malignant triad of sexual risk and vulnerabilities. Dr. Laibon-Masha stressed the need to address these issues in a comprehensive manner to maintain progress in addressing HIV as a public health challenge.
Addressing these complex challenges will require coordinated efforts across multiple sectors, including healthcare, education, and social services. By providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education, access to contraception, and support services for survivors of GBV, stakeholders can work towards reducing the incidence of unintended pregnancies and HIV transmission among adolescents.
Overall, the latest findings from the National Syndemic Diseases Council underscore the need for urgent action to address the intersecting issues of adolescent pregnancies, HIV, and gender-based violence. By prioritizing the specific needs of adolescents and young people, Kenya can work towards improving their health and well-being, ultimately paving the way for a healthier and more resilient future for the country.
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