adolescent pregnancies in botswana!!!!!

There is no universally agreed definition of youth and adolescents. Therefore, each agency such as UNFPA, UN General Assembly, WHO and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) have their own definitions. The age groups of youth and adolescents overlap and there is no concrete beginning or ending age.

WHO defines adolescence as the second decade of life, the period between the age of 10 to 19. However it must be emphasized that adolescence is the phase, rather than a fixed time period in an individual's life.

Researches show that most adolescent become sexually active before they reach 20 years.

-about 16 million adolescence give birth every year most in low-middle income countries.

-an estimated 3 million girls aged 15-19 undergo unsafe abortions.

-in low-and middle income countries ,complications from pregnancy and childbirth a leading course of death among girls ages 15-19.

-infants of adolescent mothers are more likely are more likely to have low birth weight.

Early marriages mostly influenced by culture

Sexual behaviors by adolescents

Peer pressure

Drug and alcohol abuse

Lack of information

Poverty.

The impacts of adolescent Pregnancy can be on both the mother and baby

Also they can be psychosocial and medical

THE MOTHER

Drop out of school

be unemployed or underemployed

STDs & HIV/AIDS infections

complication during birth which may lead to death

obstetric fistula (i.e. tear in the birth canal which creates leakage of urine.)

THE BABY

May grow up without a father

deformity

death

Education.

Sex education

family planning

Prenatal care

Available multi media sources like Wise Up campaigns, help lines e.g. YOCA

SERVICES

Youth friendly services should go mobile for those in remote areas.

all forms of media should be utilized fully to increase accessibility

stakeholders collaborations

As part of the preventative measures we came with a campaign called BW Adolescents INFO HUB.

This is done through social media as means of reaching as many youth as possible.

This aims at providing information and sharing ideas on issues of adolescent pregnancy.

So far we have a facebook page; BW Adolescents INFO HUB

Blog; bwadoiescentinfohub.wordpress.com

Google+

We also shared our presentation on slideshare.com

From various research done, adolescent pregnancy is a problem that the world is facing. Many girls who become pregnant have to leave school. This has long-term implications for them as individuals, their families and their communities

With the current era of the HIV epidemic, adolescent pregnant poses a threat to the future of countries hard hit. As many of their youth are at risk of contacting HIV.

Services that aim at preventing adolescent pregnancy needs to be intensified and made accessible to youth.

Education should also be intensified and also be translated I various languages to cater for different tribes in the country.