Participants during a family planning awareness campaign in Mombasa. [Photo/ Maxwell Ngala]
Health stakeholders in Kwale County have cautioned girls under the age of 18 years against using contraceptives.
Led by Lameck Magetto, the stakeholders said a majority of underage girls in the county practice various family planning methods with an aim of preventing pregnancies.
Magetto said some of the young girls were secretly using contraceptives which were posing a great danger to their health.
Addressing a health stakeholder’s forum in Ukunda, Kwale County, Magetto said the different family planning methods are only effective if administered in the right way.
He said underage girls should not be encouraged to use contraceptives, adding that they should instead abstain from sex.
“The best way is for these children to abstain from sex and stop practicing these methods which may have a negative impact on their lives,” he said.
Magetto said stakeholders in the health sector will carry on with their family planning awareness campaigns in a bid to ensure the community living in the Coast region has access to the right information.
“We, however, call on teachers and parents to take health issues seriously especially family planning methods, as this will help in containing the escalating poverty situation in Kwale County,” said Magetto.