Keeping girls in school through completion of secondary school could curb teenage pregnancy by up to 70 per cent, according to the Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana. He made the remarks during a national youth dialogue held on Friday, June 26, at Kigali Convention Centre, where policymakers, thousands of young people, parents and development partners gathered to discuss strategies to accelerate the prevention and elimination of teenage pregnancy. Also in attendance at the event organised by Imbuto Foundation was First Lady Jeannette Kagame. ALSO READ: Teen pregnancy rises to 8% as experts warn of growing risks The forum, held under the theme “Building Strong and Safe Families: Accelerating Efforts to Prevent and Eliminate Teenage Pregnancies,” also highlighted adolescent sexual and reproductive health and the broader social drivers of early pregnancies. According to data presented by the minister, more than 23,000 adolescent girls become pregnant every year, about 63 cases daily. The figures reflect an increase of 5 per cent to 8 per cent compared to trends recorded between 2020 and 2025. Nsanzimana said that girls under the age of 19 remain the most vulnerable group, facing a higher risk of complications during childbirth, including maternal deaths. ALSO READ: The daunting effects of teenage pregnancy He further noted that children born to teenage mothers are also more vulnerable to stunting, highlighting the long-term health and developmental consequences linked to early pregnancies. “The main risk factor of teen pregnancy is school dropout,” he said. “Girls who leave school before secondary school completion are five times more likely to get pregnant. While those who complete secondary education are four times more protected.” Other drivers include misinformation among adolescents, peer pressure, poverty and sexual violence, all of which increase a girl's vulnerability to early pregnancy. Nsanzimana stressed that keeping girls in school significantly reduces their exposure to risks associated with early pregnancy, making education one of the most effective long-term interventions. “We must ensure that no girl drops out of school before completing secondary sacondary, as education plays a significant role in reducing teenage pregnancy and delivers strong positive outcomes,” the minister said. “Access to reproductive health services is also being expanded and brought closer to communities, down to the village level, to ensure young people can easily access support, as this is also seen as a key part of the solution.” The minister also stressed the importance of providing young people with accurate and reliable information, noting that open communication between parents and adolescents is essential to prevent misinformation and risky behaviour. He further called on young people to embrace discipline and make responsible life choices, saying that navigating adolescence successfully depends largely on behaviour, decisions, and self-control. Responsible parenting and safe families The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Consolée Uwimana, said the discussion on teenage pregnancy cannot be separated from the broader issue of child protection, stressing that building safe families begins with safeguarding children from abuse. “Many cases of abuse remain hidden within communities and families. It is a shared societal challenge that requires collective responsibility rather than silence. These figures reflect issues that exist within our own communities and households, where such cases are often concealed. This is a problem that concerns everyone,” Uwimana said. She called for stronger community engagement, noting that protecting children requires active participation from parents, neighbours, and local leaders. “It requires people who genuinely love children and value what they do, community members who do not stay silent when they witness abuse, and collective efforts to address the issue together,” she added. She emphasised that no policy or legal framework can replace responsible parenting. “Parents and community leaders, no policy or law can replace good parenting. A well-raised child is one who is able to speak up about anything affecting them, is listened to, and is guided by a good example. Let us be responsible caregivers,” she said. Uwimana also urged young people to avoid peer groups that may expose them to risky behaviours such as alcohol consumption and other harmful practices. She encouraged them to seek help when facing challenges rather than remaining silent. The Director General of Imbuto Foundation, Elodie Shami, told participants the Forum that the theme “Building Strong and Safe Families: Accelerating Efforts to Prevent and Eliminate Teenage Pregnancies,” was designed to remind both young people and adults of their shared responsibility in building a society they aspire to live in. “When a girl becomes pregnant, it is a serious violation and a loss to the nation, but it is also often the result of earlier circumstances that could have been prevented,” Shami said. She added that the responsibility to end teenage pregnancy lies with everyone, stressing that it is a collective task requiring joint action from families, institutions and communities. “We hope that these discussions will not end here and that efforts to strengthen a culture of supporting reproductive health discusions will continue to grow in our communities.” The dialogue also included the launch of the “Twimakaze Umuco wo Kuganira ku Muryango,” a national guidebook designed to promote open communication within families. The guidebook is meant to support parents, caregivers, and trainers in facilitating structured discussions with adolescents, using interactive methods to improve dialogue at household level. It aims to promote a culture of openness, strengthen parent-child communication, and encourage the use of Rwandan values in addressing everyday family issues. Chantal Uwera, a 21-year-old, from Karongi District said such dialogues are important because they remind parents that families can safely speak openly about sensitive subjects. “When families are able to talk openly, many problems can be prevented early. It helps both parents and children understand each other better and build trust,” Uwera said.
