Young boda boda operators and teachers are the key culprits behind teenage pregnancies in Kenya, a survey has reported.
The
2015 National Adolescent and Youth Survey also indicated that peers are third on the list of those impregnating teen girls.
The survey stated that teenage pregnancy remains the major reason for school drop-outs and early marriages among girls.
In July 2015,
residents
of Mida, Malindi subcounty, asked that all over a rising number of teen pregnancies.
The survey noted drug and substance abuse, which impairs judgment on sexual matters, as one of the contributing factors.
"This leads to risky and unsafe sexual behaviour. High levels of poverty among people also precipitates their engagement in commercial sex to gain material benefit," read the report.
Other factors cited included parental negligence or lack of parental guidance and lack of or inadequate health information.
It was also noted that teenage mothers are at
greater risk than women
of dying from related complications.
"This is because their bodies are often not fully developed therefore complications leading to death are likely," it read.
The survey further stated that drug abuse is most rampant among young people aged 15 to 24.
It termed drug and substance abuse a problem among teachers, students and parents in counties across the country.
It stated the problem is common in boys' schools and most reported in Migori, Nyeri and Laikipia counties. It is least reported in Mandera,Tharaka Nithi, Kisii and Nakuru counties.
The main causes of drug abuse were listed as lack of food, peer pressure among youths, social environments, poor parenting, addiction and availability of cheap drugs.
"This contributes to lack of concentration and affects academic performance. Peer pressure plays a key role," the report read.
The survey was carried out in all 47 counties which were clustered into 16 regions based on socio-demographic factors. It began on May 11 and ended in July.