Babies raising babies: Teens caught between changing diapers and systematic failures

Babies raising babies: Teens caught between changing diapers and systematic failures (Photo: iStock) In the teeming heart of Nairobi's informal settlements, a silent epidemic is unfolding that leaves no sirens blaring, no headlines screaming, but scars entire generations. Teenage girls, many still in school uniforms or nursing infants on their hips, are being thrust into adulthood by early pregnancy, broken homes, and the brutal weight of poverty. Their stories of betrayal, pressure, abandonment and survival mirror a national crisis where sexual violence, misinformation, and economic desperation collide. Behind every statistic lies a name, a wound, and a warning: Kenya's teenage girls are being failed, not just by their partners, but by a system unequipped to protect them. Their stories, often whispered or silenced, reflect a widening gap between policy and protection, between survival and dignity. This week, Kayole was jolted by a horrific tragedy. A 17-year-old boy was detained following the fatal stabbing of Judith Ngamia Wanyama, who had confronted him over impregnating her 19-year-old daughter, Sharon Ouma. The confrontation escalated after Judith invited the boy to her home over the weekend to discuss the situation. Judith's sister also sustained injuries to her hands and mouth and was rushed to a nearby hospital. Police recovered the murder weapon and a bottle containing a poisonous substance. Investigators believe the teenager may have intended to take his own life following the incident. Meanwhile, in Mathare's Area 4, 18-year-old Gloria Nyambura grapples with a quieter, but no less harrowing battle. Her partner, who fathered her first child when she was just 16, has become increasingly violent. He contributes sporadically to their meagre household expenses. With nowhere to go, Gloria is caught between enduring abuse or facing homelessness with her child. "I was raised by a single mother and never knew my father," she says. "I attended Morrison Primary School in Bahati and dropped out after getting pregnant in Class Eight. I later returned to sit my Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams. I gave birth at 16 and moved in with my baby's father." Gloria says he has not been treating her well, nor concerned that she has a baby to take care of. He is also unemployed and depends on casual work and if none is available, he collects plastics to sell for meagre earnings, which are not enough to feed the young family. Now pregnant with a second child, Gloria speaks candidly about peer pressure and poverty's role in shaping her fate. "I saw other girls looking good, well-dressed, and taken care of by their boyfriends. Meanwhile, my mother was struggling to take care of my siblings and I. I got trapped. If I could advise schoolgirls on anything, it's this: stay in school. Don't fall for the illusion." Recognising the need for change, Gloria turned to a network of fellow teenage mothers for emotional support. According to the 2023 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), 15 per cent of adolescent girls aged 15-19 have experienced pregnancy, 12 per cent have given birth, one per cent have suffered pregnancy loss, and three per cent are currently pregnant with their first child. Teen pregnancy declines sharply with education. 38 per cent of girls with no education fall pregnant, compared to just five per cent of those with education beyond secondary level. It also decreases with wealth, from 21 per cent in the lowest wealth bracket to 7 per cent in the highest. "Over the past years, teenage pregnancies have been alarming and continue to be an issue that requires attention. Several factors exacerbate the situation. Currently, the level of information available, which is not filtered and controlled, contributes significantly to teenage pregnancy. Some of the information consumed by teenagers contributes to peer pressure, leading to early sexual debut among adolescents and teenagers," states Jennifer Waridi, a community mobiliser and founder of Waridi Foundation, a youth-led organisation. Unexploited power disparities The KDHS survey indicates that twenty per cent of men aged 25 to 49 had their first sexual intercourse before age 15, compared with 15 per cent among women in the same age group. By age 20, 72 per cent of both women and men aged 25 to 49 had their first sexual intercourse. Waridi contends that some teens have suffered from adults who exploited power disparities to lure them into having sex. This is among the common and unspoken types of gender-based violence (Economic Violence), where young girls are often taken advantage of due to their need for money or other basic needs. "If these girls were well informed, the perpetrators would not stand a chance. There are different ways to end teenage pregnancies, including creating safe spaces that offer age-appropriate information to adolescents and young people (AYPS), and introducing programs in schools to inform AYPS and provide them with evidence-based learning opportunities," she says. Ann Mitu, the Founder of Young Mothers Africa, says her journey with adolescent girls and young women (AGYM) started when she joined a volunteer group and gave them a listening ear. From that,t it has been a roller coaster of a journey as she navigated the uncharted waters. "One of the ways we can help reduce this menace is if we start to target the younger ones who are still in primary school. Many are still innocent, but look up to the young mothers around them as their role models. We need to cut this cycle, which leads them to drop classes while at the same time making sure that accessibility to contraceptives, especially for those in vulnerable conditions, is ensured," she says. Ann opines that there is a need for age-appropriate sexual health education, which, she says, is key in breaking the chain. Kamukunji Sub-County, where she comes from, is leading when it comes to teenage pregnancy within Nairobi County. Her youth-led organisation has been actively trying to bring teen mums together for psychosocial support and recently teamed up with other organisations to amplify their work. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the teenage pregnancy and motherhood rate in Kenya stands at 18 per cent. This implies that about one in every five teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 19 years has either had a live birth or is pregnant with their first child. The rate increases rapidly with age from three per cent among girls aged 15, to 40 per cent among girls aged 19. "Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) empowers adolescent girls with the knowledge and skills to understand, value, and protect their bodies. With this, girls are better equipped to make informed decisions about their health and futures, including if, when, and whom to marry. It plays a vital role in delaying sexual debut, preventing early marriage, and supporting girls to stay in school and complete their education," says Jedidah Lemaron, the Executive Director at Malkia Initiative. Jedidah says teen pregnancies are frequently linked to significant health hazards for both the young mother and her baby. "Adolescents are at an elevated risk for complications during pregnancy and childbirth, potentially leading to serious health issues or even death," she points out. A new report by the Ministry dubbed Incidence of Induced Abortions and the Severity of Abortion-related Complications in Kenya paints a raw picture of the matter. The National Study, which was supported by the African Population and Health Research Centre, and Guttmacher Institute, indicate that about 355 women die annually per 100,000 live births in Kenya due to pregnancy and childbirth complications, highlighting the slow progress toward reducing the maternal mortality rates in the country. This maternal mortality ratio remains far from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births. Findings show that an estimated 792,694 induced abortions occurred in Kenya in 2023, corresponding to an induced abortion rate of 57.3 abortions per 1000 women of reproductive age (15 to 49 years) and an induced abortion ratio of 48.1 induced abortions per 100 live births. Abortion rates varied significantly across the regions in Kenya. Eliminating barriers The respondents of the survey also stated that of the abortions they had in the last five years, 28 per cent were adolescents at the time of their only/most recent abortion. The report recommends that there is a need to strengthen family planning services and the quality of post-abortion care while eliminating barriers to access, especially for adolescents and young women. There is also a need to strengthen the capacity of low-level health facilities, train mid-level providers, and equip health facilities with the appropriate post-abortion care supplies and commodities. "In Kenya, abortion is highly restricted and only permitted if, in the opinion of a trained health professional, there is a need for emergency treatment, the life or health of the mother is in danger, or if permitted by any other written law," says Pete Ouko, the Executive Director at Youth Safety Awareness Initiative. Pete, who leads the organisation popularly known as Crime Si Poa, describes working with victims of sexual and gender-based violence as profoundly challenging. "You encounter normalised rape, child defilement, and parents who are unwilling to pursue justice-often due to poverty or coercion by the perpetrators. Then you come face to face with the stark reality that mental health issues, as well as sexual and gender-based violence, lie at the very heart of everything our team is trying to address," he says. "In some areas, the abuse and defilement of both children and adults-regardless of gender-has been normalised. We even find parents reluctant to act when their children are violated, as poverty often forces them to accept bribes or remain silent," he adds. "From a psychological perspective, the effects are profound. Teen mothers often face significant emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. The sudden transition into parenthood deprives them of a typical adolescence and the opportunity to develop essential life skills," says Dr Paul Mburu, a medical psychologist. Dr Mburu says education is one of the first casualties as pregnant teens are frequently forced to drop out of school due to stigma, shame, or lack of support. "This educational disruption severely limits their career opportunities and increases the likelihood of long-term poverty. Consequently, many teen mothers find themselves trapped in a cycle of dependence and hardship," he states. To break the cycle, Dr Mburu stresses the importance of youth-friendly reproductive services, noting that many teens are unaware of or afraid to access contraception due to stigma or lack of confidentiality.

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