Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Anthony Idowu Ajayi, Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center
Published on 2024-01-29 13:07:49
Adolescent pregnancy is a significant global public health issue, with around 13% of girls and young women giving birth before the age of 18 in 2022. Adolescent mothers are more susceptible to maternal deaths and pregnancy-related complications, which are leading causes of death among African adolescent girls. Babies born to adolescent mothers in low- to middle-income countries also face an increased risk of neonatal deaths, pre-term, and underweight birth. This underscores the importance of pregnant girls feeling comfortable seeking healthcare.
In Kenya, 15% of adolescent girls become mothers before the age of 18, with those from poorest households being more likely to become mothers than those from richer households. A survey conducted by specialists in medical sociology and public health in 2022 found that about a third of adolescent mothers in an informal settlement in Kenya reported abuse by health providers during childbirth, which discouraged them from seeking future maternity care at healthcare facilities.
The study site, Korogocho, is an informal settlement on the outskirts of Nairobi with overcrowding, poor infrastructure, limited access to water and sanitation, high crime rates, and exposure to violence and social unrest.
The study focused on 491 adolescent girls aged 14 to 19, who had biological children at the time of the interviews. The data indicated that 32.2% of adolescent mothers suffered abuse from health providers during childbirth, including physical, verbal, stigma and discrimination, neglect and abandonment, and detainment.
The study also found that abused girls were less likely to report being satisfied with the care received, intend to use the facility for future births, and recommend the facility to others.
Moving forward, there is a need to address societal stigma and discrimination faced by pregnant girls, and healthcare workers need proper training to counter the shame that pregnant girls endure. Adolescent girls also need to be informed about their rights to respectful care. Small-scale interventions in Nigeria and Ghana have shown potential in strengthening health systems to be more responsive to the needs of adolescents. Until the mistreatment and abuse of adolescent girls is highlighted and addressed, professional care for pregnant girls will not be achieved.
