Katsina Records Highest Rate of Teenage Pregnancy

NPC Chairman, Chief Festus Odimegwu

•Nigeria's adolescent birth rate stands at 121 per 1,000 live births
By Damilola Oyedele

Of the 36 states of the federation, Katsina State has the highest number of teenage pregnancy, according  to the 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), released Monday in Abuja by the National Population Commission (NPC).

However, in contrast to Katsina, which with 65 per cent of cases of teenage pregnancy tops the table, Edo State has the lowest rate of teenage pregnancy, which the report puts at 2.9 per cent.

Nigeria's adolescent fertility rate also stands at 121 live births per 1,000 based on  the NDHS.

The figure is high when compared to statistics from other African countries such as Algeria with seven live births per 1,000; South Africa with 58 per 1,000 and Ghana with 63 per 1,000.

NPC Chairman, Chief Festus Odimegwu, presented these figures at a briefing to mark the 2013 World Population Day in Abuja where he added that the current teenage maternal mortality rate at 0.822 per 1,000 women remains high with more incidences in Northern Nigeria.

The maternal mortality rate  is aided by unsafe abortions, pregnancy complications, poor ante natal care and weak pelvic bones, while major consequences for the teenage mother include curtailment of educational attainment and likely unstable marital life, he said.

Odimegwu, who was represented by the Chairman of the Technical Management Team of the commission, Dr. Festus Uzor, cited various reasons for the increasing incidences of teenage pregnancy to include poverty, sexual abuse, ignorance, cultural and religious beliefs.

He appealed for concerted efforts among all stakeholders to curb the rising trend and pledged the commitment of the NPC to effectively implement the national population policy.

The various interventions of the federal government in the health and education sectors, he added, would not only help reduce the scourge but also mitigate the negative impact on the girl child.

The Deputy Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Osaretin Adorin, in a goodwill message, said issues of teenage pregnancy should not only be considered a health issue, but that of human rights.

"Their bodies are not even matured enough, so both the mother and child suffer. It is sometimes a case of a baby becoming a mother," he added just as he called for the enactment and implementation of policies that protect the girl child.