A new situational analysis report on teen pregnancies in Kenya has shown that the topmost perpetrators of the outcome are boyfriends.
According to the report, a survey carried out established that boyfriends in school represented 29.1 per cent of the perpetrators.
They were followed by neighbours (18.4 per cent) and relatives (10.6 per cent).
The report stated that boyfriend was a term used to show a consensual relationship between the girls and the boys.
It also meant a classmate, a schoolmate or another young boy from a nearby school or college.
Boda boda riders are also among the culprits in the tragedy of teen pregnancies representing 9.9 per cent, while campus boyfriends are 7.1 per cent of the perpetrators.
Workers in school including teachers and casual staff were 6.4 percent.
The least of the persons responsible for teenage pregnancies were strangers (4.3 per cent) and older adults (termed as sponsors, including teachers, policemen, pastors and priests) were associated with 5.7 per cent of teenage pregnancies.
According to the girls interviewed, most pregnancy cases are student-by-student pregnancies.
“However, according to key informants, no action is always taken against boys and adult men who impregnate girls,” the report stated.
It added that in fact, according to the BOM members, some parents get happier when they hear or come to learn that their sons have impregnated girls.
Sadly, such sons are considered heroes and not villains.
According to respondents, any attempt to punish such boys in some communities is met with a vengeance by parents and the community.
The report recommended that from the findings, interventions targeting boys in primary and secondary schools can be fruitful in reducing incidences of teenage pregnancies.
The survey established that in terms of places where pregnancy occurred, the study noted that most of the sexual acts leading to teenage pregnancies were experienced at the homes of the perpetrators (boyfriends, teachers, police, priests or friends).
On factors contributing to teen pregnancies, the report showed that peer pressure led with 59 percent, followed closely by lack of basic necessities which was the reason for 56 percent of the respondents.
Forty percent of the girls said they got pregnancy as a result of early initiation to sex with 34 percent blaming it on lack of school fees.
Other reasons included sexual abuse and violence (21 percent), drug and substance abuse (18 percent), child and early marriages (16 percent), social media (13 percent), cultural practices (10 percent) and lack of information (6 percent).
