TEENAGE PARENTING : UNDERSTANDING THE REALITIES

OVERVIEW AND FACTS:• Still a challenge to Uganda

• About 56% of the population of Uganda is below 18 and,

• Girls form more than 60% of this population.

• Half of our girls give birth before 18

• Uganda has highest school drop-out rate in East Africa (UNESCO Report, 2010)

• Many drop out due to pregnancy!!!

• Rate of teenage pregnancy in the country now stands at 30%, with new cases every day.

SOME OF THE CAUSES?• Broken relationships / families or death of parents –

when parents separate, children take charge = child headed homes.

• Parent children relationships in families -authoritative parents deny freedom to think and act on ones own.

• Sexual exploitation – defilement, rape

• Weak law enforcement and support

• Adolescents being unruly and peer influence

PARENTING CHALLENGES• Summarily, it is essential that parents are

emotionally, financially and physically prepared to handle the responsibilities of child rearing! –

a) Teaching the child values

b)· Providing for the child

c)· Explaining to the child your situation – in relation to why he/she is where one is

NEEDED SUPPORT• Parental involvement – Open up

• Create a positive communication channel –Why authoritative even up to this stage?

• Do away with the stigma attached to teenage parenthood – better support

• Support and take care of victims of teenage parenthood – train them – livelihood skills

•

• Create awareness

• Re enforce legal parameters

• State should fully support youth friendly services and bring them nearer to the consumers

• CONSTANTLY remind adolescents about the dangers of teenage parenting

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