Teenage pregnancies & child marriages rise in Mangochi

Amref health Africa says teenage pregnancies and early marriages are still increasing despite many government and NGO’s interventions against the malpractice.

Project officer for Amref health Africa Shar-leen Chisema revealed the development at Msasa full primary school in Mangochi during an awareness campaign on the impact of teenage pregnancies and early marriages.

Chisema said Malawi demographic health survey found that 36.7% of teenagers in the district had already started giving birth as compared to the national rate of 26%.

“The problem is high because national fertility rate is 166 per 100, 000 people but in Mangochi it is 126,” she disclosed

Chisema said law enforcers should take to task perpetrators in order to reduce the malpractices in Mangochi.

Commenting MP for Mangochi south west constituency Justine Majawa said the issue of teenage pregnancies and early marriages in the area is a serious problem.

“Lack of role models and motivation from parents are the the contributing factors to the malpractices. Parents are interested in sending children to South Africa because they get a good blanket,” said Majawa.

He said the country is not doing well in sensitizing people on the new marriage law.