Teenage pregnancies are a serious issue in the country, affecting thousands of girls. Every year, hundreds of school girls are forced to sit for their national examinations while pregnant. Here are ways parents and educators can prevent teen pregnancies:

1 Comprehensive sex education 

 One of the most effective methods for preventing teenage pregnancy is offering comprehensive sex education to young people. This instruction should include knowledge about contraception, healthy relationships, consent, and reproductive biology—thorough sexual education to reduce sexual activity and boost contraceptive use in adolescents.

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2 Access Birth control

 Increased availability of contraception is another essential strategy for preventing teenage pregnancy. This involves making contraception easier to obtain and ensuring young people understand how to use them properly. Condoms, birth control pills, and reversible contraceptives that are long-acting (LARCs), such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants for contraception, are all effective teen birth control techniques. Parental and kid communication 

 3 Communication between parent and child 

Parents play a very significant part in preventing adolescent pregnancy. By discussing sex and relationships with their children openly and honestly, parents may assist their kids in making informed choices and have confidence in discussing these subjects with them. Communication about sex between kids and their parents has been linked to a lower chance of teenage pregnancy, according to research.

PHOTO | COURTESY ways of preventing teenage pregnancy

4 Peer instruction

 Peer education programmes can also help to avoid adolescent pregnancy. These programmes teach young people about sex, contraception, and healthy relationships. Peer mentors can be invaluable for teenagers who prefer to discuss these issues with peers their age. 

5 Community-based initiatives

 Community programmes that offer young people support and resources can also help to avoid teenage pregnancy. Examples of such programmes are after-school activities, mentoring programs, and job placements. These programmes can help avoid pregnancies among adolescents by keeping youth active in productive activities and offering positive youth opportunities. 

6 addressing the fundamental issues

 it is critical to treat the root causes that may contribute to adolescent pregnancy. Poverty, a lack of access to medical care, and social customs which promote early marriage and pregnancy are examples of such problems. By addressing these problems, we can help establish an improved atmosphere for adolescents and lower the likelihood of teenage pregnancy by addressing these problems.