Some residents of Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have
blamed the rampancy of teenage pregnancy in the area on parental
negligence, poverty, and moral decadence.
blamed the rampancy of teenage pregnancy in the area on parental
negligence, poverty, and moral decadence.
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| Pregnant teenagers |
The residents made this known in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Mararaba.
According to Mr Ben Idiege, a civil servant, poverty contributes
significantly to teenagers’ propensity to get pregnant because their
families are unable to provide them their basic needs.
significantly to teenagers’ propensity to get pregnant because their
families are unable to provide them their basic needs.
He said that the act of allowing teenagers to engage in immoral acts
because of money and fashion was not in the interest of the society and
the future of the teenagers.
because of money and fashion was not in the interest of the society and
the future of the teenagers.
“It is crazy for parents to think that once a girl-child is grown up
they no longer have to continue to cater for them and provide their
needs.
they no longer have to continue to cater for them and provide their
needs.
“Parents should stop engaging their teenagers in immoral activities for the sake of bringing money home for the family to feed.
“I understand that the economy is difficult, but it is not acceptable
for parents to allow their teenage girls to engage in activities that
will be detrimental to their health and future,” he said.
for parents to allow their teenage girls to engage in activities that
will be detrimental to their health and future,” he said.
Mrs Anthonia Jatto, another resident, urged parents not to allow
their teenage girls to hawk goods as that could make them predisposed to
getting pregnant.
their teenage girls to hawk goods as that could make them predisposed to
getting pregnant.
“Street hawking among children must be stopped because experience has
shown that most victims of harassment and abuse are children sent to
the streets to hawk.
shown that most victims of harassment and abuse are children sent to
the streets to hawk.
“Parents should try by all means to provide for their children and to stop using them as breadwinners of the family,” she said.
Mr Mathias Bulus, a trader blamed the increasing rate of teenage
pregnancy on failure of some families to instill discipline and morals
in their wards and children.
pregnancy on failure of some families to instill discipline and morals
in their wards and children.
“It is the responsibility of parents to monitor properly the
activities of their children and ensure that they associate with the
right people, but also dress decently before leaving home.
activities of their children and ensure that they associate with the
right people, but also dress decently before leaving home.
“Teenage pregnancy, immoral behaviours and crime are on the
increase because some families have failed to shoulder their
responsibilities as they should,” he said.
increase because some families have failed to shoulder their
responsibilities as they should,” he said.
Mr Cletus Akogwo, a tailor, called on parents to devote time for
their children, especially the females, adding that education without
sound moral could be counterproductive.
their children, especially the females, adding that education without
sound moral could be counterproductive.
He added that the failure of parents to caution their children
against immoral acts was one of the major factors responsible for the
rampancy of teenage pregnancy.
against immoral acts was one of the major factors responsible for the
rampancy of teenage pregnancy.
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