Why teen girls in Africa get pregnant unexpectedly

From financial dependency on older men to no access to contraceptives: There are many reasons why teen girls may find themselves unexpectedly pregnant. We head to Namibia with Edith Kimani to ask why teenage pregnancies are so prevalent in Windhoek’s low income communities and what kind of challenges teen mums are facing.
#DWAfrica #the77percent #teenage mum #africa
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77 percent of Africans are younger than 35. Africa's youth holds the key to shaping the continent’s future. On our platforms we share their stories, their dreams and their challenges. Are you part of the 77 percent? Join the debate here on KZbin, and on the following platforms:
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[@litrackenkevin2729]

The fact that Edith remembers their names, which is so respectful and shows proper engagement, makes her brilliant reporter.

[@thendykrystyna8184]

yes indeed.. ❤

[@che_boy120]

It's high time for African parents to start having conversations with their children regarding sexual awareness otherwise they will go out their own way to experience it with a partner without being fully aware of what they are actually engaging themselves into. Father's have to equip their sons with the right skills to become real men when they grow up and also how to treat a woman with respect and dignity. Mothers too need to teach their daughters about class, self worth and morality. Let parents take their due responsibilities towards their children. We are living a hypersexualised society and if parents don't step up their parenting skills, their kids will stand no chance to having a brighter future.

[@m.sualisumohammed6247]

I hope this channel will get the popularity it deserves. This is the time we need a lot of education and positivity.

[@DWThe77Percent]

Thank you for the kind feedback! We're always working on new and interesting topics, so stay tuned!

[@tkelly2546]

They can't teach them about the manipulation of a grown man. Even as a grown woman education is one part the other experience is a cruel teacher. Men need more training instead of putting everything on girls.

[@josetteblackburn2253]

The exact same scenarios, mentalities, circumstances, outcomes and point of views are right here in the USA, all 50 states. It's a global issue. Thank you Edith and Namibia for showing the world on stage how all of us are the same. This could have been down the street from me in Los Angeles.

[@blackdiamond4761]

No it's not. So stop.

[@josetteblackburn2253]

@@blackdiamond4761 Freedom of speechreally does exist in some places...and, it's a pleasure to meet you.

[@mzee5533]

Machismo every blame is given to the girl child due to toxic culture. And the gvt doesn’t protect these innocent souls.

[@lifeishope3063]

Such a remarkable debate

[@rabdujaiye7941]

Always look forward for your street debate. My favourite ones are by The Gambians🇬🇲 youths especially the killer Rapper . Love from Nigeria

[@DWThe77Percent]

Glad to hear you enjoy our Street Debates, we love producing them, too!

[@chrisnassauw3122]

Teenage pregnancys has serious challenges to the victims. For instance juggling school with a child. 2) the cost of raising a child 3) change in social status 4) possibility of family conflicts 5) changes to mental health. Iam very proud that I was never a teenfather nor my children were never been teen parents

[@andreaslach691]

I am new to DW and love what you guys do at the 77%. I realy think you deserve much more views. More people need to understand, that it is not about nations any more. It is about the world now. ✊✊🏿✊🏽✊🏻✊🏾✌🏼

[@rabdujaiye7941]

Please share it does help with views

[@DWThe77Percent]

We're glad you enjoy our content! Stay tuned for more!

[@linalesia5188]

We always hear of rates of teen pregnancy being higher in third world countries, particularly in lower income neighborhoods. It is not as if girls and boys from these countries are more promiscuous. The difference is availability and affordability of contraceptives. Culture also plays an important role in that girls are less likely to even seek contraceptives if they know that would be judged for it. As for abortion, my feeling is that this is a very personal matter, however, there should be allowance for safe abortions because realistically, there will always be abortions whether we like it or not, it is just a reality of life.

[@shanghaichica]

Poverty is also a big cause. In more affluent countries young girls are not having to sleep with older men for financial reasons.

[@toocooltobecruel]

Omg I love the interviewer so much!!

[@oyindamolaoseni6525]

Love Simson's comments from a Biblical perspective🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@lindaagola8149]

I bumped into this...Edith is a natural👍 Interesting discussion

[@DWThe77Percent]

Thank you!

[@Joeygamingplays]

Lack of direct communication from parents and teachers about the subject. They think it is shame to talk about sex openly.

[@shernahricketts4130]

This is happening in Jamaica also and other countries

[@joe_lubinda]

I was born in Zambia, my mum was 17 and my dad was 21. Things haven't changed much there teens are still having kids 💀

[@sparklequeen-angel4749]

This is a very interesting topic as boys and girls should receive the same level of sex education. Parents are especially responsible for not having open conversations about this topic and reli entirely on the school system to raise awareness. Abstinence has been put in place by God for a reason to prevent, infections, disease, and underage pregnancy. On top of that spiritually you loose your virtue.

[@sulimanaltahir1287]

What amazes me is that no one talks about how to find a way to prevent sex in teens zone , one says ' abortion must be there , and another goes ' ladies gotta take introspection ,, it's really sad the way they think !........The only one brings a reasonable point is the church man ' thank you from here!) , he says " Christianity tells us to control our self desire " ......lady in black says " traditionally , if an old man approaches you , you gotta give him out and get sex with " if l got her well !!! ... The issue of teen pregnancy never happens in the north of Africa and it's horn to some extend why is that , well ! From my perspective is an issue of civilization ; society which are civilized will always find good ways to the social diseases !

[@jamdungXgyal876]

Sex education isn't all thats needed. Family planning should be introduced to these girls in school. Boys should be held responsible of course but the girls stand the consequences of shame, single parenthood, abandonment, homelessness etc. Obviously, fear of HIV/AIDS or STDs isn't a deterrent from engaging in unprotected sex so atleast contraceptives needs to be introduced from early.

[@hildequeenhaipinge]

In most homes, there's no upbringing taking place. All the things a young person should, is all left in the education system. Including sexual education, parents don't know what to teach their children & in most homes the children were not planned

[@musamanneh8939]

Edith you such a beautiful and smart

[@sinnehsesay9452]

SEX EDUCATION SHOULD NOT JUST LIMITED IN THE SCHOOL BUT ACROSS ALL SECTORS OF LIFE AND UNDER AGE CHILDREN MOST KNOW THE GOOD AND BAD PART OF IT AND ACTION MOST HAVE TAKEN BY THE PERPETRATOR

[@latasha716]

Once you're able to become pregnant the body is fit to carry the baby to term, however, the mind is not always fit at such a young age. Young pregnancy is more of a social issue than a biological issue. The young lady Freda is not completely correct about the biology.

[@Joeygamingplays]

I live in Sweden and children are taught this things both at home and school be4 their teenage.

[@nomxhosapekani7966]

Well Sweden is at another level and not a comparisson. Teen birth rate is highly correlated with religiosity at the state level, with more religious states having a higher rate of teen birth, an analysis showed. Teen birth rate is very highly correlated with religiosity at the state level (P

[@TheHoodVoice2024]

​@@nomxhosapekani7966why do you think Sweden is at a higher level 👀 America we also had this problem in the 90s, so sex education was inserted into the school system and things changed

[@nomxhosapekani7966]

@@TheHoodVoice2024 Sweetie, please re-read my comment, because I said we can not compare if social and economic factors are not comparable.

[@TheHoodVoice2024]

@@nomxhosapekani7966 oh ok, because I don't want whites to ever feel like they are above black people in anyway.

[@judith2924]

@@TheHoodVoice2024 or rather abortion access!

[@sandhyamathura]

"Accident" what f#cking "accident"? "Mistake"??? SICK

[@gqlovalova]

You are rocking the hell out of that blue dress

[@faheemfaquir1024]

What if you gave the man the exact same rights as the woman? Or that both must agree to procedures

[@doityourself2save]

Edith looking pretty good 👍

[@lifeishope3063]

Oooh shiiiiit did you just say,,,ur bf had denied the baby no nono Noway that’s so bad of him 😎😎😎😎😎😎

[@fjellyo3261]

Education is key here. I guess it also has some thing with the to do with socioeconomic background. Teen pregnancies are a factor for poverty (which doesn't mean all teen Moms are poor, it's just more likely). Also the government needs to implement measures to prevent it more. I am a guy myself and having sex with underaged girls is just disgusting to me. Get yourself someone over 18! Educate these boys and men! Also I disagree with the religious approach of the guy. People will have sex, so get educated about consequences. Virginity is a stupid made up concept that just causes a lot of trouble.

[@jaybird2791]

If you don't know why they are getting pregnant, I'm not going to explain how..

[@afrikaplug1447]

Sex is a commonly used as a coping mechanism for people in poverty you will notice this phenomenon isn't unique to low income country's this is also true in impoverished regions even within developed country's too, its normal infact its a survival technique. The problem is poverty not education, honestly this conversation went sideways woman have no right to decide if they can take a life that doesn't belong to them just a Men do not have that right.

[@linalesia5188]

I beg to differ on this one. The main difference, in my opinion, between teen pregnancy in impoverished regions/ countries and well off regions/ countries, is availability and affordability of contraceptives. If what you are saying is true, there wouldn’t be so many abortion clinics in developed countries. Even when you go back history, there has always been this notion that girls from poor countries are more promiscuous, only to find that in developed countries, families shipped their pregnant girls to homes for unwed mothers, and were forced to give up their children for adoption while to prevent defacing their families.

[@afrikaplug1447]

@@linalesia5188 That's your option but it's based off flawed logic go to the poor regions in the US where the government gives away free contraceptives, you will see teens pushing strollers still. People not just women use the intimacy of sex like a drug and contraceptives can take away from that or leave a young woman unable to ever have children or feeling ugly because they gained weight from the medication given, so many decide it's not worth it to take the medication especially when its coming from a people they don't trust alongside with the aspect that many young women actually want to get pregnant not because they are promiscuous but because the want to be loved.

[@user-tc9pb7gl4e]

Lord we are in trouble with our sexually active kids😊

[@blackdiamond4761]

Because they're not taught to keep their legs closed and to wait for marriage.

[@polkadots6101]

Sir are u serious?

[@tomhenry897]

Use no brith control

[@ninaryko6695]

Felicidades, es un buen ejemplo. 360 sentadillas son unos YOURGIRLS.Uno muchas y un buen ejercicio. Se deja ver que hay muy buenos resultados 😍👍 Saludos desde la Cd.. de world 🌹😉💖 los mortalesa abian apreciado tan hermosa mujer.k

[@TheHibener]

What in earth makes you promote such a website in this channel. Shame on you

[@fjellyo3261]

@@TheHibener it's a bot.

[@TheHibener]

@@fjellyo3261 i always forget about the dark sides of internet, because for me Internet is such a wonderful place to get information, learn about other countries and cultures. Thanks for reminding me 👍

[@2000un2000]

The population growth in Africa is unsustianable. The economies of African states cannot sustain such a growth, neither can their nature.

[@mosalethoba5267]

That's not true

[@2000un2000]

@@mosalethoba5267 Yes it is. The poorest countries in the world have the biggest population growth. Its not a coincidence. China is a prime example of that. Half a century ago they had similar population growth as Africa (an avarage of about 5-6 children per woman). At that time they were a poor and backward country. Since then they managed to contain their population growth and already in the 1980s the average was down to 2,5 children/woman and since the 1990s its below 2 children/woman (granted they did this with introduction of a one-child policy which is a bit extreme, but the point stands). And where is China as a country since then? Africa is already showing that it can not sustain such a population growth. Hundred of millions of Africans are dependant on outside help even for basic things like food. Conflicts for land and water have already begun and will only escalate. Africa is the only continent that is projected to continue with its uncontrolled population growth even into 2100s. Good luck with that.

[@BlackGriffin195]

...and they think the answer is to migrate to Europe.

[@phaithambila8217]

Just because everyone is fornicating does not mean the church should stoop low to accomodation SIN.ABSTAINANCE IS THE WAY,THE TRUTH AND LIFE-JESUS CAN HELP THEM

[@face2much]

Women control access to sex. Since they have the power to choose which men have sex the burden of responsible decision making is on them. It's not fair but that's the way it is. With power comes responsibility.

[@pietrostavastano2356]

Unexpectedly??😂