Predictors of teenagers' pregnancies in Rwanda: Evidence from selected Districts

Abstract

Teenagers’ pregnancies constitute a major challenge which has raised the attention of writers and educational stakeholders. The phenomenon is being amplified by different push factors which make teens impregnated. The purpose of the study was to assess factors which contribute to teen pregnancies and identify mechanisms which can be used to address it. Respondents were sampled from five Districts by considering 40 in each and 200 respondents were randomly selected. Poverty, carelessness, rape, lack of information about reproductive health, attempt to love, peer influence and lack of parental attachment in all its angles were highlighted to be the main causes of early pregnancies. There is a need of raising parents’ awareness of the importance of having quality time with their children, being closer to them in order to be able to make regular follow up on challenges they face related to their physiological changes especially at teenage age. This would help them understand what is happening in their bodies and guide them towards appropriate behavior. This would reduce the number of teens who are manipulated by adults based of teens’ ignorance.