Kilifi North Member of Parliament Owen Baya has expressed concern over the number of unplanned pregnancies, higher number of births and early sexual debut, saying it remains an issue for adolescent girls and young women in Kilifi County.
Recent demographic and health survey conducted by the Department of Health shows that Kilifi North Constituency leads amongst the seven constituencies in the whole county in the menace.
Baya said the issue has indubitably taken a huge toll on the performance of schools within the constituency as evidenced by the just released 2018 KCPE results.
"We all have a greater role to play towards ensuring that this menace is totally controlled," he said.
Speaking during a meeting with county leaders and various stakeholders on addressing and tackling teenage pregnancy in Kilifi, the lawmaker said his office is working closely with the county government towards finding a better solution to the menace.
"We've invited stakeholders who apparently are on the verge of coming up with long lasting solutions."
Baya asked parents to take the matter as an inside problem and come up with precautionary measures including advising their children on effects of teenage pregnancies.
"This will not happen without the help of the parents who ought to take it as an inside problem and therefore come up with precautionary measures," he said at Kilifi Dhows Inn.
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