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    HomeWorldThe Unseen Scars: Teenage Pregnancy and Child Marriages in Binga

    The Unseen Scars: Teenage Pregnancy and Child Marriages in Binga

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    By Rutendo Mapfumo

    An alarming 75% of expectant mothers in Binga district are under the age of 18, facing severe complications such as eclampsia and postpartum haemorrhage. 

    An investigation conducted by NewZiana in Binga district, with support from the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe, shows that 75% of expectant mothers at Binga’s health facilities are aged 13 to 19. Shockingly, 30% of these girls are already married, with some having two children by the age of 19. Many of these young mothers are not physically prepared for pregnancy.

    The investigation also reveals that the complications faced by teen mothers contribute to low birth rates and poor health outcomes for newborns, as local health facilities struggle to provide adequate care.

    Dr Sibonginkosi Ncube, the Acting Binga District Medical Officer, explains the dangers these young mothers face. 

    “Their bodies are still weak and fragile, complicating pregnancy outcomes. Health implications include preterm deliveries, low birth weight, eclampsia, and postpartum haemorrhage. Anaemia, infant morbidity, and maternal morbidity are also serious concerns,” Dr Ncube explains.

    The 2023 National Assessment on Adolescent Pregnancy in Zimbabwe reports a 23.7% rate of pregnancy among those aged 10 to 19. Of 337 surveyed pregnant adolescents, 4% had disabilities, and 30% experienced complications. The NAAPZ further explains that among adolescents aged 15 to 19 in Binga, the Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (MCPR) and family planning usage are alarmingly low at 44.9% and 38.7%, respectively, despite the introduction of youth-friendly health services.

    Bulawa Nyoni, an 18-year-old from Tinde, says she is aware of the youth-friendly services but is afraid to seek help from any health services.

     “I am a mother of one. I know about the youth-friendly health services, but I have never really thought about going to get health services from them,” she explains.

    Another sixteen -year-old Loveness Lunga who got pregnant in her teens says she had complications during her pregnancy which has affected health to date .

    “I got pregnant at 14 and then married. When I had my first child, I had to be referred to Binga hospital for an operation because I was too weak to deliver. I suffered from postnatal trauma which led to my grandmother taking the child from me as a way of protecting my child and me,” she recalls.

    A ward 13 local councillor from Binga, Never Muleya points out the shortcomings of health facilities in Binga. 

    “We appreciate the efforts of our resident doctor, but resources are limited in some clinics where many teen mothers seek care,” he says. Treatments for serious conditions, like vaginal fistula, are often unavailable.

    “We often have cases where a woman is referred to Bulawayo because the local clinics and our local hospital are unable to help. Another challenge we face is the power supply in some local clinics, which is also an inconvenience for new teen mothers,” he explains

    Several factors contribute to the high rates of teenage pregnancy in Binga, including poverty, climate change, and lack of birth registration. 

    “Drought forces young girls into early marriages because they don’t see the point in continuing their education without the necessary documents,” Muleya adds. 

    Daniel Sithole an Environmentalist from Green Shango Trust notes that climate change worsens the situation. “Drought and long dry spells often lead some young girls into marriage,” he explains.

    In recent years, the Zimbabwean government has implemented measures to tackle teenage pregnancy, focusing on keeping girls in school.

     “We need to encourage girls to wait to have sex, promote contraceptive use, and empower them through skills training and job opportunities,” Dr Ncube says.

    She further emphasized that the Ministry of Health in Binga is collaborating closely with non-governmental organizations to address teenage pregnancies, aiming to mitigate the complications associated with them.

    Depression, difficulties in bonding with their babies, conduct disorders Depression are some of the lifetime effects faced by teenage mothers.

    Poverty also drives child marriages in Zimbabwe, as families may marry off young daughters to relieve financial burdens. In rural areas, the bride price can be seen as a way to gain livestock or cash. “Some parents will marry off their daughters for as little as a few cows,” says Minister of Women Affairs Monica Mutsvangwa.

    Organizations like Basilwizi Trust are working to combat child marriage in Binga. They have helped register 1,271 young girls for birth certificates and identity cards. Danisa Mudimba, the Programmes Manager at Basilwizi Trust, highlights the link between teenage pregnancies and unregistered children, noting that many young mothers under 16 lack the documents needed to register their babies.

    The National Assessment on Adolescent Pregnancies in Zimbabwe 2023 (NAAPZ) points to several reasons for high birth rates among teenagers in Binga. Key factors include low education levels, rural residency, and poverty. According to the World Health Organization, mothers aged 10 to 19 are at a much higher risk for complications compared to those aged 20 to 24. Problems like eclampsia, serious infections, and other complications are common. Babies born to young mothers are also more likely to have low birth weight and be born prematurely.

    Zimbabwe ranks among 41 countries worldwide and 20 in Africa with high rates of child marriage, with about 33% of girls married before the age of 18. This figure is slightly above the global average of 29%. These numbers are concerning and show that child marriage continues despite ongoing advocacy. There is an urgent need for comprehensive efforts to address these issues.

    New Ziana

    This story is published under the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe Investigative Journalism Fund with support from Action Aid Zimbabwe under the Partnership for Social Accountability Programme.

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