Teen pregnancies: 110,821 cases recorded in five months

A total of 110,821 pregnancies were recorded among adolescents aged between the ages of 10 to 19 in the first five months of 2023.

Data from the Kenya Health Information Systems shows a total of 6,110 were among adolescents aged between 10 to 14 years while another 104,711 were between the ages of 15 and 19.

This is almost half of what was recorded in 2022 which stood at 260,734. The pregnancies were 316,187 in 2021 and 331,549 in 2020.

From the data, Meru County had the highest proportion of adolescent pregnancies between the ages of 10-19 years in the country between January to May at 26 per cent.

Narok had the second highest proportion at 25 per cent, followed by Tana River with 24 per cent, Samburu with 24 per cent, West Pokot at 24 per cent, Homa Bay and Kisii with 22 per cent with while Kitui, Bungoma, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Tharak Nithi, Nandi and Busia with 21 per cent each.

“We are yet to finish the year and that is the data that we have and that is the data of those who have been reported and yet there are those that are never reported,” Janet Musimbi said.

Musimbi is the Programme officer of the adolescent and Youth programme at the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council.

Other countries are:

Trans Nzoia, Nyamira, Vihiga, Marsabit, Migori had 20 per cent each, Siaya, Mandera and Turkana with 19 per cent each.

Baringo and Embu with 18 per cent each, Kwale, Machakos and Kajiado with 17 per cent each while Kisumu, Isiolo, Garissa, Laikipia, Taita Taveta and Makueni had 16 per cent each.

Others include Murang’a, Kilifi, Nyandarua and Uasin Gishu had 15 per cent each, Lamu and Kirinyaga 14 per cent, Elgeyo Marakwet 13 per cent, Nakuru 12 per cent, Kiambu and Nyeri 11 per cent, Wajir and Nairobi 10 per cent while Mombasa was at nine per cent.

“Six per cent of the pregnancies occurred among girls aged 10 to 14 between 2016 and 2022. Can you imagine a 14 year old, and we are talking about the 6 per cent of the pregnancies among them,” Musimbi said.

“We need to ask ourselves what is it that is unique in these counties that we need to tackle and have a dialogue and why teenage pregnancies are so high in these counties,” she added.