Nairobi County Revealed to be leading in Teenage Pregnancies

According to data from the National AIDS Control Council (NACC) Nairobi, Homa Bay, Mandera, Kakamega and Kajiado Counties recorded the highest numbers of teenage pregnancies last year.

The NACC data revealed that Nairobi has the highest number of pregnant teenagers aged between 10 – 14 years (2332) and 15 -19 years (12723) in 2021.

Homabay Mandera and Kajiado followed closely with pregnant adolescents aged between 10 – 14 years with 1,522, 1,493 and 1,370 cases respectively.

For teenagers aged between 15 and 19 years, Kakamega and Meru Counties were leading with 11,386 and 10,307 cases respectively.

Taita Taveta which had 16, Mombasa 21 and Lamu 17, were counties with the least cases of teenage pregnancies of adolescents aged between 10 and 14 years. Lamu (608), Nyeri (1,438) and Taita Taveta (969) had the least number of adolescent pregnancies aged between 15 and 19 years.

NACC revealed that some of the causes of early pregnancies are lack of sex education and awareness, peer pressure, poverty, drugs and substance abuse, early marriages and defilement.

As a result, NACC has recommended that schools inform both parents and guardians any time they find a learner who is pregnant as soon as possible and enrol the affected learner in a guidance and counselling programme.

According to the council, schools should ensure that learners access health services appropriate to their age such as antenatal care.

Documented communication with the affected learner and parents should be available detailing the school’s re-entry policy.

The school, the affected learner and parents or guardians should sign a commitment letter for the pregnant learner to re-enter school six months after they have delivered. The six months should give enough time to the learner to nurse the newborn.

Besides, NACC recommends that learners should be allowed to stay in school as long as it is possible and should be allowed to sit for the national examinations if they are in a health condition that makes it possible.

Early pregnancy in Kenya normally refers to a pregnancy that occurs in girls below the age of 18 years and has been the main reason for school drop-out cases among girls who are adolescents. This is because early pregnancies expose young girls to health challenges including mortality and morbidity due to complications arising after giving birth and unsafe abortions.

Data on Adolescent pregnancies in 2021

S/NO
COUNTY NAME
ADOLESCENT PREGANCIES (10 – 14 YEARS)
ADOLESCENT PREGANCIES (15 – 19 YEARS)
1.
Nairobi city
2,332
12,723
2.
Homa Bay
1,522
6,472
3.
Kajiado
1,493
7.411
4.
Mandera
1,370
5,087
5.
Narok
967
9,746
6.
Kericho
906
4,764
7.
Kisii
876
7,186
8.
Meru
818
10,307
9.
Machakos
776
4,191
10.
Bomet
744
7,102
11.
Tana River
640
3,049
12.
Kiambu
541
5,860
13.
Migori
520
7,141
14.
Bungoma
455
10,219
15.
Garissa
395
3,376
16.
Kakamega
381
11,386
17.
Busia
368
4,248
18.
Siaya
348
5,135
19.
Kitui
335
5,558
20.
Samburu
324
3,059
21.
Wajir
308
2,330
22.
Kisumu
276
4,971
23.
Baringo
270
3,473
24.
Uasin Gishu
263
3,895
25.
Turkana
255
5,111
26.
Makueni
246
3,550
27.
Nyamira
229
3,512
28.
Nandi
224
4,232
29.
Isiolo
213
1,549
30.
Nakuru
207
8,813
31.
West Pokot
207
6,792
32.
Kilifi
177
6,226
33.
Trans Nzoia
173
5,790
34.
Kwale
166
5,115
35.
Kirinyaga
157
1,984
36.
Marsabit
136
2,798
37.
Elgeyo Marakwet
122
2,947
38.
Nyeri
104
1,438
39.
Laikipia
93
3,123
40.
Vihiga
63
3,521
41.
Tharaka Nithi
62
2,234
42.
Nyandarua
43
3,185
43.
Embu
28
1,825
44.
Murang’a
27
3,262
45.
Mombasa
21
2,325
46.
Lamu
17
608
47.
Taita Taveta
16
969

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