A glance at teenage pregnancies from a town like no other: A case study of SEPA’s work

The mighty Zambezi River passes through Zambezi Town and divides it into two mini towns, what connects them is the famous Chinying Bridge hanging from the sky like the mighty eagle, that are distinguished by language and culture. The west bank of the town is predominantly Luvale speaking while in the east bank people speak Lunda, there is a rivalry between the two divides, so intense that its chiefs do not see eye to eye.

An intersectional advocate

The heart of central Zambezi is home to ‘Save Environment and People Agency ‘(SEPA), a woman led Civil Society Organization that has been in existence since 2004 focusing on environment/ climate change, Education, Human rights, and HIV/AIDS. It has been sensitizing the communities and schools on environment issues, but realized that there was one important part missing which was sexual reproductive health such as issues of child marriage, lack of sanitary pads and pants for the girls and boys, teenage pregnancy and STIs were increasing among young people. With its resources, SEPA started providing sanitary pad and pants to the girls and boys but lacked the knowhow on SRHR services. However, with the coming of Make Way program as a collaborating partner, SEPA has undergone a lot training and it is able to provide information on SRHR to the young people not living any one behind. They are targeting the young people with compounded vulnerability for example young people with HIV/AIDS, living with disability, young mothers, and young people living in poverty. Most importantly, they view the young people through an intersectional less, which has resulted into SEPA not only identifying the most vulnerable young people but also identifying those left behind, how they are left behind and why they are left behind.

SEPA has a strong niche in advocating for climate change and includes delivery of sanitary towels to the most marginalised during their HIV & AIDS sensitization programs due to period poverty experienced by many families and girls/women living in poverty.

Teenage pregnancy still a scourge

SEPA for a long time has been worried about the increase in numbers of teenage pregnancies in Northwestern province in Zambezi district. Teenage pregnancies have become a source of concern in the province hence the need for increased sensitization of youths on Sexual Health Reproductive Rights (SRHR). Due to high numbers of teenage pregnancies, SEPA is part of a consortium of partners implementing the Make Way Programme aimed at embracing youth’s sexual reproductive health rights, without leaving anyone behind. The inclusive in the Programme has enabled SEPA increase their SRHR scope and do more than HIV & AIDS sensitization and distribution of sanitary pads.

SEPA’s CEO, Mrs. Muke revealed that some traditional norms and beliefs do not save any purpose but rather celebrate teenage pregnancies instead of condemning the vice. Improving services is not enough. Sexual and reproductive ill health has major social, cultural, political and legal determinants and consequences that need to be addressed in other ways. Taboos and norms about sexuality and reproduction (including practices such as child marriage, and early sexual initiation) present strong barriers to providing information, services and other forms of support that people need to be healthy. Sex, pregnancy and young people are sensitive issues, but must be addressed if young people are to fulfil their potential, hence the need for the CEO to stress the need for parents to discuss Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) issues with their children in order to reduce  teenage pregnancies, HIV/ AIDS, STIs and maternal  deaths.

Speaking during a capacity building workshop of relevant provincial and district level authorities as well as traditional leaders and parents on policies dealing with sexual reproductive health rights and services as part of the activities of Make Way programme, Muke said, “ Increase in teenage pregnancies is as a result of the society shying away from discussing sexual reproductive subjects. It is high time for parents to realize that talking about issues of SRHR with their children at home will make the girl child and boy safer in the society adding “information shared will empower the girl child who are the most vulnerable and might not be able to distinguish right from wrong when it comes to sexual activities”.

In May 2023, SEPA conducted an engagement meeting with Health personnel and youth at chilen’a rural health center, to convene and strengthen safe spaces for marginalized youths and emphasize on Youth engagement in decision-making and leadership skills.

Protection of adolescent rights

The majority of girls in Zambia who become pregnant while in school (86%) are in primary school (aged 10–14 years). This suggests that Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and SRH services are not reaching that large section of adolescents rendering it a problem requiring immediate remedial action. In view of this information, SEPA conducted a training of Guidance and Counselling Teachers on CSE. Meanwhile, Northwestern Province Education Officer Peter Kaimana commended SEPA for supplementing government efforts in the fight against teenage pregnancies more especially in schools. All youth with compounded vulnerabilities have a right to scientifically sound information on SRHR. CSE empowers adolescents by enabling them to make informed SRH decisions and choices that will help prevent teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and ill health in general.

Kaimana said there is need for government and other stakeholders especially teachers to work together in ensuring that the rights of adolescents are protected. He added that teachers should be at the center stage in inculcating good values in learners especially the girl child adding that learners spend much of their time in schools.

Collina Banda a youth panel member based in Zambezi appealed to the government and other well-wishers to get on board and support youth friendly spaces with equipment that will help them teach their peers on SRHR.

Banda said all the three youth friendly spaces that have been identified in the communities have no equipment.

The SRHR ambassador also thanked SEPA for the opportunity rendered to them especially incorporating them their programme, which she says has changed many young girls since its introduction in 2021.

SEPA trained the out of school youths peer educators in out of school from Mapachi, Chilen’a and Zambezi Central. The aim of the training was to train young marginalized youth to be ambassadors in their communities on SRHR related issues to help reduce Teenage pregnancies.

A step in the right direction

The government of Zambia has rolled out the National Standards and Guidelines for Adolescent Friendly Health Services, defining the minimum package that health facilities should offer to provide friendly services to adolescents. Young people are particularly vulnerable to problems associated with SRH. This is widely recognized but too rarely translated into accessible services for young people. The poorest women start childbearing youngest, between the ages of 15 and 19 in many developing countries. Half of new HIV infections are among young people aged 15-24, many of whom remain ignorant of the epidemic or ill prepared to respond. Demand for reproductive health commodities is increasing as populations grow, and as people become more knowledgeable and actively seek out family planning, and condoms for protection against sexually transmitted infections as well as for contraception. Yet millions of women and men are unable to access the contraceptives and related services they need to plan when and if to have children.

SEPA facilitated a dialogue meeting between health personnel and marginalized youths to discuss issues that affect the youths when accessing the services and information on SRHR in the hospital and health centers. Advocating for an adolescent friendly space that will provide an approachable, responsive environment and offer young people the information, skills and means to make safe choices.

Some of the barriers that hinder the youth from accessing the service are; confidentiality, unfriendly health personnel and lack of youth Friendly species.  During the interface meeting,  Mapache  clinic that SEPA has been working with has been able to source for funds and renovate the old clinic into a youth friendly corner and safe space for the young people  though SEPA ‘s advocacy and the training that Make Way has been offering to the Health personnel.