Post on 15-Jul-2015
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
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING