The Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey, sixth of its kind, shows that reproductive health education and teen pregnancies are still an issue among the youth.
The survey published by the Rwanda National Institute of Statistics (NISR) a week ago found that the rate of teenage pregnancies and births in Rwanda is at 5.2 per cent, having decreased from 7.3 per cent in 2014 to 2015.
The figures show that the decline was because of the awareness campaigns and measures taken to address the problem of teenage pregnancies.
On the other hand, figures from the Ministry of Health from 2016 to 2019 show that the teen pregnancy rate is still alarming.
In 2016, there were 17,849 teen pregnancies; in 2017 there was a slight decrease of 17,337, in 2018 this figure increased to 19,832 which means that compared to 2017 and 2018, the number of teenage pregnancies increased by about 2,495.
From January to August 2019, the number of teenage pregnancies was 15,696, which means at least 1,962 pregnant girls per month.
According to these figures, about 23,544 children were born to young mothers in 2019.
Demographic and Health Survey shows that considering the total number of teenage pregnancies and births, the number of uneducated girls is high, meaning those educated should strive to promote sexual reproductive health education among those uneducated as their contribution to curb teen pregnancies.
According to Samuel Hakuzimana, the founder and executive director of Citizen Voice and Actions, a youth-led organisation in Rwanda, more effort is needed to fight sexual and gender-based violence.
This should be done through training young people and organising youth dialogues on prevention of teenage pregnancy, as well as engaging with decision makers on issues relating to violence against girls.
"We should build the capacity of youth in governance. Educated youth are asked to help the uneducated ones and share knowledge about reproductive health and girls’ rights. Teen pregnancy is a big issue in the community,” he says.
To fight teenage pregnancies, we have a plan in Gatsibo District to help vulnerable teen mothers by creating small rearing projects for them. We think they can form groups. They can make kitchen gardens and plant fruits, vegetables to avoid malnutrition among their children,” he says.
He adds that counselling is highly needed for teen mothers and the educated youth can play a big role.
Patrick Ahishakiye from Kiramuruzi Sector of Gatsibo District says, "There are teenagers who say that their parents do not educate them about reproductive health and how to protect themselves. And when they are lured by peers or men, they get pregnant.”
The teen mothers are appealing for support in terms of small income generating businesses, such as goat rearing and poultry farming, learning Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), among other things.
Apophie Murungi, a student at the University of Rwanda, Huye Branch, also agrees that educated young people should play a big role in sexual reproductive health education.