“I am fed up with life,” she said. “I don’t know the father of my child. I used to trade sex for money but when I discovered that I was pregnant I ran away from home and started living at a friend’s house. Three months ago, her parents where due to return from South Africa so I went to live on the street. I have nothing more to offer my baby so I have decided to sell her and raise money to buy new clothes and some food,” she said.
According to the 2008 Inter-Censal Demographic Survey, while 62% of Zimbabwe’s population is below 24 years of age, the majority of these young people are facing unprecedented challenges. These include STIs, teenage pregnancies, unsafe abortions and limited access to sexual and reproductive health rights.
The 2005/6 Zimbabwe Demographic Survey reported a high rate of teenage pregnancies for the 15 to 19 age group. The adolescents’ fertility rate is higher in rural areas than urban areas.
“Limited availability of youth-friendly information contributes to young people engaging in sexual behaviour that puts them at high risk of pregnancy. Young women are particularly vulnerable because they are less likely to be informed about how to prevent HIV infections,” read part of the demographic survey.
The young woman’s aunt said she was disgusted by the minor’s behaviour.
“She ran away from home because she no longer wanted to be treated like a child. I was shocked to learn that she had a baby. I have been looking for her for the past year. I still don’t understand why she had to put her life to waste,” said her aunt. “I loved her as my own child since her mother died when she was only two-years-old but my love and hospitality was not enough.”
UNFPA has partnered with the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council and funding from the European Union to support an Adolescents’ Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme in 16 districts of the country.
“The programme provides young persons with gender-sensitive information on sexual and reproductive health, STIs and HIV/AIDS through peer-to-peer education and youth provincial and district taskforces. This also includes film screening on topics related to HIV and AIDS,” said UNFPA. – (*not her real name)
Post published in: News