By Kefiloe Kajane
Quthing has been identified as a leading district when it comes to teenage pregnancies blamed on the lack of sex education.
High numbers of rural girls aged between 15 and 17 are falling pregnant in that district .Generally; girls from rural areas in Lesotho are regarded as humble, well behaved in school, and innocent. These girls are usually from poor families.
However, a study by Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association titled, “Situation of HIV and SHR Among Adolescents and Young People in Lesotho” reveals that teenage schoolgirls from deep rural areas were most likely to have unintended pregnancies.
A 17-year-old girl from Mt Moorosi, Mpolokeng Lebina, says she has teenage friends who already have children.She says many of them were sexually active even though they lacked sex education.
Lebina says the young mothers only found out from the clinic about contraceptives and HIV prevention when they were already pregnant. She says the clinic in their area does not provide contraceptives and does not have a youth desk to give out sex-related information.
“It would be better if we can be taught these kinds of things at school as a subject … at least this will enlighten us to know the things we should avoid,” said Lebina.
“Sometimes we do talk about this thing with our peers, but I do not think it is information that helps us because we are not talking to professionals or people that have experience in such things.”
Serialong Mathetse another teenager agrees that young people in rural areas are not well informed when it comes to safe sex, contraceptives, and HIV prevention.
Mathetse says many teenagers are unable to speak to their parents about sex as it is considered a taboo, especially among families that practice strong customs and traditions.
She said such subjects were uncomfortable to discuss with parents.
“Last year a 13-year-old friend of mine became pregnant. We were in grade eight. She found out that she was pregnant with twins … she could not carry them full term… she miscarried,” lamented Mathetse.
“We realised when she came back to school that she was no longer the same and she was socially detached from all her peers.
“It scared many of us because we did not fully understand the consequences of underage sex … you could fall pregnant and be stuck with a child when you are still a child yourself … also your child could die during the pregnancy because of being underdeveloped as a woman.
“Even thinking about it now I feel it makes me scared of being pregnant as a teen because I know my body is not fully developed and there will be complications if I fall pregnant before I am mature.”
Mathetse said many girls would not easily fall pregnant if they had prior knowledge of sex-related matters before they became sexually active.
Nthatisi Seboka, a 16-year-old from Maseru, says there are public and private places that provide information about sex, HIV prevention, teenage pregnancy, and contraceptives.
She said she has known about teenage pregnancy and the importance of knowing her sexual reproductive rights since she was a 14-year-old.
Seboka said she was properly informed by her local clinic about sex-related matters. She said the clinic has a youth section that deals with such subjects.
“If I fall pregnant now it will be an informed decision that I made because I am aware of things that I can use that can prevent me from falling pregnant,” said Seboka.
“I believe it is important for us, especially as teens, to realise that using contraceptives does not make you a ‘loose’ girl, but a responsible child.”
