18 percent of adolescent women are mothers with first child –

Dissemination of Comprehensive Health Education Research Findings

By Yunus S Saliu

Introduction

The Principal Investigator of the Comprehensive Health Education (CHE) project, Ms. Phebian Ina Grant Sagnia, presented the research findings to various stakeholders. She highlighted that 18% of adolescent women in The Gambia are mothers with their first child.

Teenage Pregnancies in The Gambia

Ms. Sagnia emphasized that teenage pregnancies outside of marriage among adolescent girls are a major concern in The Gambia. According to the Gambia Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) 2013, almost one in five (18%) of adolescent women aged 15 to 19 are already mothers or pregnant with their first child. These pregnancies contribute to unsafe abortions, which account for 13% of maternal deaths in the country.

Concerns about Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health

The increasing rates of sexual and reproductive health infections, early sexual debut, teenage pregnancies, and unwanted pregnancies have raised concerns about adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH). Ms. Sagnia stressed the need for more information to understand the linkages between implementation partners and maximize the impact of interventions. It is also important to consider local factors that affect adolescents’ access to quality comprehensive sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health services.

Research Objectives

The midline research findings aim to address knowledge gaps and weaknesses in practices related to comprehensive health education. The research provides detailed information on age-appropriate and culturally relevant interventions that can be scaled up to strengthen access to quality comprehensive sexuality education. The findings will inform policymakers at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education on meeting the sexual and reproductive health rights and needs of adolescents and youth in all regions of The Gambia.

Comprehensive Health Education Project

The Comprehensive Health Education project, funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), is a 5-year project implemented in Region 1 of The Gambia. The project follows a research approach, collecting data and testing interventions.

Dissemination Forum

Mr. Michael Hamadi Secka, delivering the opening remarks on behalf of Mr. Momodou Jeng, Director of the Curriculum Research Evaluation and Development Directorate (CREDD), thanked the participants for their attendance at the dissemination forum. He encouraged health workers to provide valuable suggestions and recommendations for the CHE project, which many stakeholders believe should be a standalone subject in schools.

Research Findings

The midline research findings were conducted in 43 schools and 28 communities in Banjul and Kanifing Municipal Council. Dr. Thomas Senghore presented the qualitative findings, discussing the methodology used and key findings related to policy framework, design, and structure. The research showed that stakeholders considered the CHE program to be very good and innovative in enhancing understanding of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). However, concerns were raised about the concentration of activities in only one region.

Recommendations

Based on the midline research findings, Dr. Senghore provided recommendations for improving the CHE project.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
   • Indicator 3.7.2: Adolescent birth rate (aged 10-14 years; aged 15-19 years) per 1,000 women in that age group.
   • Indicator 3.7.3: Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods.

Analysis

The issues highlighted in the article are related to adolescent pregnancies and the need for comprehensive sexuality education and reproductive health services. These issues align with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, specifically Target 3.7, which aims to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services.

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets under SDG 3 that can be identified are:

1. Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.

The article mentions that adolescent pregnancies outside of marriage among adolescent girls are a major cause for concern in The Gambia. This indicates a need for comprehensive sexuality education and reproductive health services to prevent unwanted pregnancies and ensure the well-being of adolescent girls. The target focuses on ensuring universal access to these services, which aligns with the issues discussed in the article.

The article also mentions that teen pregnancies contribute to unsafe abortions and maternal deaths in The Gambia. This highlights the importance of providing access to family planning and reproductive health services to prevent unsafe abortions and improve maternal health, which are key components of Target 3.7.

As for indicators, the article mentions or implies the following indicators:

• Indicator 3.7.2: Adolescent birth rate (aged 10-14 years; aged 15-19 years) per 1,000 women in that age group.
• Indicator 3.7.3: Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods.

The article states that 18% of adolescent women age 15 to 19 in The Gambia are already mothers or pregnant with their first child. This information can be used to measure progress towards Indicator 3.7.2, which tracks the adolescent birth rate per 1,000 women in the age group of 15-19 years.

The article also mentions that teen pregnancies contribute to unsafe abortions, indicating a need for improved access to family planning services. This aligns with Indicator 3.7.3, which measures the proportion of women of reproductive age who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: voicegambia.com

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