With the current trends in Kenya, a huge percentage of pregnancies are unintended.
Are there consequences for mental health for women who continue with these unintended pregnancies? Unintended pregnancy is likely to cause parenting stress and maternal depression.
With anxiety and depression being the most common among adolescents, there are high cases of suicidal cases.
In addition, there are high rates of postpartum depression.
In the past, we have witnessed parents beat their children to death or often times dispose of them after giving birth.
These would be a result of parenting demands which might have negative psychological effects.
Men play a huge role in mistimed pregnancies and many times they don’t take part in the child's life if the woman is forced to continue with the pregnancy to term.
These adverse the impact mental health of the woman when she is pregnant or when the child is born.
Girls may have to leave school because they find it difficult to continue when the child is born.
It is important to prevent unintended pregnancy not only to avoid dealing with the mental health of the woman and support them in fulfilling their reproductive goals but also to avoid negative outcomes for children and families.
Teenage mothers must also adjust to the responsibilities and demands of parenting, often in the context of economic choices.
Financial dependency can also make the life of the mother stressful.
Such stressors may contribute to a range of mental health problems that can adversely affect the functioning and parenting behaviour of adolescent mothers.
Peer interaction has greatly affected pregnant adolescents and they undergo social rejection and exclusion.
In the communities, there's limited access to healthcare making it hard to access information on safe sex.
It is assumed that the poor and unmarried are the ones who experience unintended pregnancies, however, anyone can be faced with this kind of situation.
To ensure that no woman suffers mental health due to unintended pregnancy, the government should guarantee friendly services and staff who are sensitive and non-judgmental to support in screening at various prenatal visits, should be provided in the facilities to enable early intervention if needed.
Men responsible need to participate in childcare and reduce marital conflict to improve maternal mental health.
Improving comprehensive and integrated mental health services within schools, communities, and healthcare settings to address teen pregnancy.
Sexual reproductive health advocates at the Network for Adolescent and Youth of Africa
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
“WATCH: The latest videos from the Star”
