Low condom, cultural practices driving teenage pregnancies in Nsanje

Low condom use in the Lower Shire District of Nsanje is the main factor driving teenagers into early marriages and pregnancies, Nyasa Times established.

Nsanje District Hospital officials and residents in an interviews have confirmed our findings saying indeed the facility is on pressure and is struggling to contain it.

Doctors told Nyasa Times that the hospital is receiving four to five cases of young girls coming to seek  post abortion care.

Interviews done in Nsanje revealed that there are two main factors leading to low consumption of condoms.

“Young girls and boys indulge in unprotected sex because there is a belief here that condoms does not provide enough sexual pressure so instead they go for head to head ” said Alick Bamusi.

Sara Phiri in the same district said “We have some cultural practices here which do not allow condom use so as a result there are so many cases of early marriages and unsafe abortion,”

Nyasa Times verified the claims with two senior hospital officials at Nsanje.

Dominic Mnyontho is a clinical officer at Nsanje District Hospital who confirmed about the high magnitude of abortion cases in Nsanje.

“Issues of abortion are of a great concern here at Nsanje we do receive 4 to five cases of young girls who comes here asking for Mannual Vacuum Aspirations (MVA) because they come here while bleeding heavily,” Mnyontho told Nyasa Times.

Magret Alufandika, who is Nurse Midwife technician, said just recently a family lost a girl because of the similar cases and that two other girls have had their wombs removed due the unsafe abortion.

“Alufandika said said another driver contributing to early pregnancies in the district is the culture of Kulowakufa.

“Condom use is not allowed in the execution of Kulowa kufa the result is HIV aids or early pregnancies, now since these are the school going children they use herbs , drugs and sticks to abort their pregnancies,”

Human Rights Lawyer , Chrispin Sibande says there is need for a new law like the one under debate, termination of pregnancy bill.

“The law will provide to broaden grounds of abortion which drives more women and young girls to the grave,” Said Sibande.

Currently abortion is allowed only on medical grounds meaning only when the life of a woman carrying the pregnancy is in danger.

Recently, chiefs under the guidance of Senior Chief Lukwa threaten to hold demonstrations in order to force Parliamentarians to table, discuss and pass the bill on termination of pregnancy.

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