TEENAGE PREGNANCIES IN ZIGUINCHOR

Focus on teenage girls and child-mothers

Teenage pregnancies that undermine the lives of adolescent girls and
girls are recurrent in the region of Ziguinchor, where 20% of births
are recorded in this category of the population. Lets look at the
various stakeholders working towards the improvement of childrens,
girls and womens health.
Report prepared by Mamouna GUEYE.
Her nickname is Yaye xelayi (meaning: mother of children). She
lives in the Nma2 neighborhood, in the outskirts of the town of
Ziguinchor (southern Senegal), and her real name is Mamouna
Diatta. She decided to help adolescents and young girls living in her
immediate environment to ensure that they are no longer victims of
teenage pregnancy. As was her case, when she was only 13 years old.
My mom regularly gave me advice, we talked a lot, but I did not
listen to her. I was very stubborn. When I was in 7th grade, in middleschool, I got pregnant, says the 21-year-old-student in 12th grade,
with the tears in her eyes. This falls into the framework of the Media
Caravan on adolescents and young peoples access to information,
and services on family planning in Casamance (Ziguinchor: March 30
- April 1, 2015).
With her right index finger on her right eye, Mamouna wipes the tears
that are beyond her control, no doubt regretting this episode in her life
that she was able to go through thanks to the unwavering support of
her mother who took care of her, and of her child, so that she could go
back to school. Seated across from her, Binetou Gassama, 22 years
old. A teenage mother who got pregnant at the age of 15, but she does
not wish to elaborate on the topic. The same goes for 2-year-old
Bineta, who already has two children out of wedlock, and her last one
just celebrated its first birthday.

As for Nn, whom I met at the Ziguinchor bus station, she confesses
that her deceased sister was also a teenage mother. She left two
orphans behind. My mom takes care of them, and pays their tuition.
Unable to cope in this difficult situation, I work in order to help her,
she says revealing that, in her neighborhood, virtually all of her
friends are teenage-mothers, except for herself, and one other woman.
Therefore, based on her experience as a teenage-mother herself,
Mamouna Diatta decided to break the taboo, and speak out in order to
free herself, and to feel useful in her community, so that girls who
were her age at the time of her first pregnancy, would not be victims
of teenage pregnancy. We meet every Sunday at my house. I have
their parents trust, so I can accompany the girls, sometimes even to
certain ceremonies, to prevent them from being picked up by men. I
would never want them to have the same fate as me, getting pregnant
too young, says Melle Diatta.
However, she is said that the teenage girls in her neighborhood are not
receptive to the messages of awareness she wants to convey. Some
girls dont care about what you say. When I approach them, they don't
listen to me, some of them even call me names, she says. Thus,
there are many teenage mothers in this neighborhood of Ziguinchor
(Nma2) which is poor, unplanned, and populous, reveals Marcel
Niafouna, president of Asfate (friendship, solidarity, fraternity, love,
tolerance, agreement). An association set up in 1996 to combat the
scourges that are corrupting Nma2. However, despite all the efforts
made to improve the inhabitants living conditions, M. Nasir admits
that there are still many teenage pregnancies in the neighborhood. We
have to admit that we have not managed to lower the numbers.
Moreover, teenage-mothers are a concern at the regional level.
Because 20% of births that are registered, involve mothers who are
teens between 17 and 19 years old, says Mariama Sarr Diop,
Coordinator of reproductive health (Sr) for the Ziguinchor region.

Confirming that teenage pregnancies are a reality in this southern

region of Senegal, Fatou Babu Aris, a retired State midwife and
Siggil Jigen network coordinator in Ziguinchor, says between
October 2014, and March 2015, 70 cases were recorded in
Djibidione in the Bignona Department (approximately 30 kilometers
from Ziguinchor). She added that 8 have been recorded in elementary
schools. During the 2013-2014 school year, more than 150 girls got
pregnant between Kolda and Ziguinchor, says Alpha Barry,
departmental president of the Parent Teacher Student association of
Ziguinchor.
A dozen pregnancies annually, in each school
The high statistics drives Mrs. Aris to ask: Where will we be at the
end of the year? Difficult to answer this question in the sense that,
according to estimates, each year, at least a dozen girls got pregnant
in each school. A state of affairs confirmed by Mamadou Ciss, the
principal of Cem Agnack, a town located 18 km from Ziguinchor, in
the commune of Niaguis. According to him, during the 2011-2012
school year, 6 students were pregnant in this school. Between 2012
and 2013, 8 cases were recorded, versus 15 for the year 2013-2014, in
the same middle-school. Until March 2015, there were 11 cases of
teenage pregnancies in Cem Agnack. Every year, girls become
pregnant in this Cem, recognizes Aliou Cama, president of the school
council. But this is not yet the case this year, he adds. This precision
made those present in the room burst out with laughter. This is the
same room in which students, teachers, and the principal of the Cem
Agnack met with a group of journalists to work on issues relating to
sexual and reproductive health.
The situation is not the same at Cem Knia of Ziguinchor. There
were two pregnancies in my class this year. The girls stopped coming
to school, but they are back now (late March 2015), explains
Mamadou Ousmane Diallo, a 9th grade student. According to him, at

first, they came, but then, they were too ashamed to come to school.
They were really embarrassed. 16-year-old Mamadou believes that
teenage pregnancies are a handicap for girls in school. They can even
be fatal, young girls bodies are not ready for pregnancy. Assatou B
adds to this grim picture teenage pregnancy can cause cases of
fistula.
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PREGNANCIES IN SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS
The excitement of getting into 6th grade, poverty, and the myth of
teachers in the dock.
There are many pregnancies recorded in schools. This situation,
according to the interviewees, is due to poverty, the transition from
elementary to middle-school, and to the teacher related myth.
Analyzing early pregnancies in schools, Mamadou Ciss, the principal
of Cem Agnack, believes that they are mostly related to the
excitement of getting into 6th grade. For this reason, girls are easy,
he says. According to Ousmane Dimri, regional president of the Parent
Teacher Student Association of Ziguinchor the young teachers who
are assigned to these schools (Cem), are the ones affected. The older
girls are either married or in the cities, so there are only schoolgirls are
left. The teacher is a myth in villages, the schoolgirls can rarely
escape those who are responsible for instilling their knowledge. This
is why Mr. Dim urges the parents to watch out for to their daughters.
We will continue to ask them to look after their children, especially
girls from the age of 10, because at this age, they are more vulnerable.
Parents must be aware about these issues, he says.
Furthermore, the principal of Cem Agnack stresses that poverty
contributes to a lot of the school-based teenage pregnancy. In this
context, 23-year-old Chrifo Mancal, resident of Nma2, says: if a girl
is from a poor family, they tend to ask men for money, who then end

up asking them for sex in return. Mamadou Ousmane Diallo, a 9th

grade student at Cem Knia in Ziguinchor, adds: in a context of
extreme poverty, parents do not have the time to deal with their
childrens education, especially not their daughters, which makes
them seek money from men who want to offer them sex. This is not
good, because they can become pregnant.
Stand up, and say no
To avoid such situations, Glenda, a 16-year-old student supporting her
mother by selling bags of ice water at the bus station in Ziguinchor,
invites her classmates to not ask men for money. According to her,
although there are many temptations, especially with adults who
without hesitation, make advances to young girls, they must stand up
and say no. In his opinion, this character trait must be instilled by the
parents, particularly mothers who must give useful advice to their
daughter(s). Unfortunately, communication between parents and
children about sexuality is practically non-existent, deplores Glenda.
As for 20-year-old Ndye Khady, a resident of Nma2, she indexes the
morbid jealousy of some parents who don't even want their children to
permeate the realities that surround them. Unfortunately, when the
girls escape, they make the most of it, and do whatever they want,
ignoring the consequences of their actions, explains our speaker.
However, she preaches for abstinence until marriage. Ndeye Khady
seems convinced, and vivaciously said if you want to, you can.
She shares this opinion with 19-year-old student, Eunice Dimitrov,
whom she met at the Baila health center, a locality in the Bignona
Department, 48 km out of Ziguinchor. Just like Khady, who also
makes abstinence a priority, she categorizes most men as liars, and
tells parents not to have any conversations about sex, and
reproduction with their offspring. In addition, some parents have no
control over their children. They have no control over them, otherwise
they would have asked their daughters where they got the money that

has not been given to them, regrets Fikri. 20 year-old Lamine Bodian
says: For this reason, parents do not play the game. Its the same
story for Lamine Diop, a Jakarta motorcycle driver in Ziguinchor.
According to him, unmarried daughters must remain under parental
supervision. Unfortunately, today, because of poverty, most of them
have no authority over their children, he says.
According to Ibrahima Coly of Bala, a student, some men pay for
their girlfriends breakfasts at the rate of 100 CFA francs per day, or
3,000 F.CFA per month. In a case like this, it is difficult for a girl to
say no to the man who wants to sleep with her, he thinks. Worse,
some girls have relations with several men, and often times, most of
them dont know who got them pregnant, deplores Ibrahima.
Becoming a mother at 12, 13 or 15 years old, means that schools are
behind many students who become pregnant, he complained.
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SEXUAL RELATIONS
Ziguinchor young population ask girls to require condoms
Even if men want unprotected intercourse, girls should not accept it,
reflects an inhabitant of Ziguinchor, who encourages girls to require
condoms.
I never go out with minors, says Mamadou Aliou Ciss, who is in
his 30s. And theres a reason for that, justifies the Jakarta
motorcycle driver whom I met with at the bus station in Ziguinchor:
I see teenage girls as my little sisters. Id rather give them advice,
than fall in make fall in love with them. However, if you must have
sexual intercourse with a girl, you must protect yourself by using a
condom, he says, emphasizing that it is not to protect the girl, but to
protect himself. Indeed, men and women could equally infected
without knowing it, so you must be proactive to avoid any future
disappointments, considers M. Ciss.

That is also how Lamine Kont feels. She is 35 years old and calls
people to work together in preventing teenage pregnancy cases in the
Ziguinchor region. According to him, responsible men must protect
themselves before sexual intercourse, especially to prevent diseases
such as HIV/AIDS. Moreover, he is convinced that even if men
want to have unprotected intercourse, girls should not accept it.
The Nn saleswoman who promotes abstinence until marriage also
defends this position, and asks sexually active girls to require the use
of a condom, especially with diseases such as HIV/AIDS. According
to her, if men refuse, they must insist.
Wanting to be responsible, 23-year-old Chrifo Mancal, even tells his
little brothers to systematically resort to using a condom. I do not
understand how you can have sexual intercourse without protection. If
I am out of condoms, I am not ashamed to go and ask my buddies
until I can find one, because I want to be responsible, shares this
inhabitant of Nma2.
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PREGNANCIES OUT OF WEDLOCK DO NOT USE
CONTRACEPTIVES
Socio-cultural considerations, a favorable factor
The phenomenon of unmarried mothers is far from fading in an
environment where procreation before marriage is tolerated in order to
prove a woman's fertility.
The Ziguinchor region is bathed in a cultural context where having a
child out of wedlock is not frowned upon, in northern Senegal, for
example, explains Mariama Sarr Diop, Coordinator of reproductive
health (Sr). She points out that unmarried mothers are better accepted
in their families compared to certain ethnic groups (the Wolof, for
example) where mothers are rejected at the same time as their

pregnant daughters. In addition, teenage mothers have no problem

getting married, because they are already fertile, she stresses.
Precisely, this is the main reason why contraceptives are not well
accepted among adolescents in Ziguinchor. Family planning is for
married women. I believe that it is bad for their health, and for their
future married life. They should not even do it, said Nn, a
saleswoman who was surprised that many students use, more and
more contraceptives to avoid unplanned pregnancies.
Mamouna Diatta adds, Here (in Ziguinchor, Editor's note) as long as
a girl is not married, or has no child, we advise against family
planning. According to her, aside from the risk of pregnancy, people
forget about the sexual diseases that can be transmitted during
unprotected sex. As a teenage-mother herself, she argues that she only
began using contraceptives well after the baby was born.
The verdict of Lamine Diop, 27 years old, a driver of Jakarta
motorcycles is based on rumors and is without appeal:
contraceptives make unmarried girls sterile. Bamba Ndiaye, a tout,
makes the same observation. He thinks that using contraceptives can
be a source of complications for unmarried daughters. In addition, it
can lead them to debauchery, he argues.
On the other hand, Lady Ndye Astou Mboup, saleswoman at the bus
station in Ziguinchor says, If the girls are sexually active, they can
use contraceptives to avoid unwanted pregnancies. She said she once
met a girl in a health facility who asked for some information on
family planning. She told me that she did not want to get pregnant,
even though she has a boyfriend, explains Ms. Mboup.
There are, however, girls who do not want protected sexual relations,
said 20-year-old hairdresser Ndye Khady. Some of her classmates
prefer the feeling that unprotected sex provides, and forget that they
can get pregnant or catch an STD.

In light of all these elements, Blanche Sambou, an expert in sexual

and reproductive health, and a member of Ziguinchors Siggil
Jigen network, advocates for girls to be better informed, especially
when it comes to rumors that say that when you adopt family
planning, you wont be able to have kids once you are married.
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GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AFTER HAVING A BABY
Certificates of absence, can help ease the mothers reintegration
In recent years, a circular from the Ministry of Education has put an
end to the excluding pregnant students. Even better, certificates of
absence, facilitates their reintegration.
All students who were victims of teenage pregnancy were excluded.
But in recent years, a circular from the Ministry of Education has put
an end to this discrimination. Thus, a student who gets pregnant has
the possibility of going back to school after their baby is born.
However, since this measure has been applied, there have been any
more cases of pregnancies in schools, says Mariama Sarr Diop,
Health and Reproductive Coordinator for the Ziguinchor region. She
recognizes that, although re-admission is no longer a problem, their
long-term care is very difficult because they are generally very
vulnerable girls who lack means, especially since the fathers are often
absent. Given this state of affairs, she says: they are excluded from
school, in medium or long-term. To support this idea Mrs. Diop gave
the example of a teenage-mother student who repeats 9th or 10th
grade. When she fails her end of year exams, she will be excluded,
she says.
Marcel Lye, health focal point of the medical inspection of schools
(Ime) in Ziguinchor says, "Students are not excluded in the event of
pregnancy. They can receive a certificate to miss class, and return
once they are no longer pregnant. These explanations are

corroborated by Mamadou Ciss, the principal of Cem Agnack.

When we notice that a student is pregnant, we call in her parents,
particularly their mothers. We ask them for an explanation, and then
we share a lot of information, including how to get the certificate of
absence, and the importance of prenatal consultations. We make it
clear that their daughter can come back to school 4 months after the
baby is born, with a medical certificate attesting that she can resume
classes.
However, Fatou Ciss Dimitrov, environmental and school life
inspector at the medical inspection of schools, deplores the fact that
parents are not doing their part. He seems to think that, often times,
the necessary follow-up to ensure that the student can go back to
school after childbirth, is missing. So, if she doesnt show up, she is
automatically expelled.
Of the teenage mothers who do go back to school, the principal of
Cem Agnack indicates that there are some who pick up the curriculum
very well. We have one who has a decent average. Another who left
the Cem was accepted into 12th grade. She was brilliant, says
Mamadou Ciss.
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INFORMATION, EDUCATION, AWARENESS
Family education clubs help raise awareness among students
Education and training sites, family education clubs (Evf) are
implemented in some high-schools and middle-schools to provide
students with more information about reproductive health.
The Cem Tt Diadhiou of Ziguinchor has 1,300 students, according
to its principal, Ms. Sagna. In school, they only had 2 pregnancies last
year. We have no means to quantify our activities, but we can say that
teenage pregnancies have decreased, she said, stating that, in the

context of the family education club (Evf), different activities are

conducted to educate students on issues relating to reproductive
health. They are thus invited to make presentations. They will
choose what information they want to share, and then and they will
share it with the others, says M. Dianka, Coordinator of the Cems
Evf club.
Ms. Sagna also noted that communication occupies a central place in
the activities. Thats why members of the Evf club commonly referred
to as Lea (Leader-student-facilitator) are trained to transmit
messages, public speaking, etc. In the same train of thought, Mr.
Dianka noted: we rely on the students to transmit the information to
their parents. They play an essential role of relaying information. 14year-old Assata B in 8th grade, agrees: we raise awareness, talk to
our classmates and to our parents. Unfortunately, most of my
classmates tend to avoid the Evf clubs, even though we are given
useful information which teaches us how to behave, regrets Cem
Kenia of Ziguinchors 9th grade student, Mamadou Ousmane Diallo.
We met a Leader-student-facilitator (Lea) at the Cem Tt Diadhiou
who indicated that this attitude is particularly noticeable in boys.
They say that the Evf club is only for girls, that is why only have 7
boys, out of 35 people total, he complains, arguing that he and his
other classmates are doing everything possible to change the opinion
of their peers. It is of the opinion young people are better off in these
clubs, than away from them.
I felt as though the Evf club was a waste of time.
Mouhamed Saha of Cem Kenia a student at Cem Knia joined the Evf
club after much persuasion. For a long time, he thought that it is a
waste of time. Now, he regrets having waited so long to join the club
where he gains lot of knowledge. In fact, he doesnt limit himself to
the club. Mouhamed joined almost all other existing clubs in his

school. It is important for me, because every day, I am learning about

new things, he said.
At Cem Agnack, its a different situation. The girls are the ones who
are missing. They do not participate in Evf clubs activities. I did
everything to set up conditions that would be attract them, but the
situation has not changed. Maybe they are busy with house work,
questioned Mamadou Ciss, Cem Agnacs principal. According to
him, it is also difficult to get students involved. For this reason, the
discussions are not interactive, he recognizes, stressing that the
challenge lies in information and awareness.
However, to make sure that the Evf clubs can keep offering activities
that benefits the students, they need support. Theres a cost
associated with mobilization. You also need to motivate the people
with resources, print materials, etc. said M. Dianka, indicating that
their Evf club benefits from support of the Inspection of the Academy
(Ia), Inspection of education, and training (Ief) and schools director.
Its the same story with Cem Agnacks principal. According him, they
only receive support from Geep (Group for population education and
teaching). There is a minimum required to motivate the people with
resources: e.g. transportation, said Mamadou Ciss, convinced that
with proper information and awareness, it is possible to reach the zero
pregnancy level at the Cem. But only provided that Evf clubs are
revived in schools, argued most of our speakers.
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CONTRACEPTIVES
Access to services and products, are still a challenge
Teenage and girl pregnancies are of concern in Ziguinchor. But, for
various reasons, it is difficult for this population to access
contraceptive products and services, even if they want them.

Despite the fact that teenage pregnancies are so widespread in the

region of Ziguinchor, adolescents and young people have a hard time
gaining access to contraceptive services, and information. Young
people do not have many possibilities to help them find solutions to
their problems, says Fatou Babu Aris, retired State midwife and
President of the Siggil Jigen network of Ziguinchor. Furthermore,
she evokes the fact that work hours coincide with students class
hours. In addition, cultural pressures dictate some of the counselors,
who do not welcome the kids with open arms, or share the
information and services with them, noted Ms. Aris.
Her colleague, Blanche Sambou, an expert in sexual and reproductive
health, adds: some midwives are not receptive to receiving girls who
come to ask for contraceptives. Affordability for those who lack the
means, is also mentioned as an obstacle to accessing contraceptive
services.
Mariama Sarr Diop, Health and Reproductive coordinator of
Ziguinchor, refers to the absence of structure geared toward young
people, counseling centers for teens (Cca) dont work. She continued
to say that access to the products is also problematic. When girls
want contraceptive products, and they know the facility managers,
they will not buy from them. However, to circumvent this difficulty,
we are a staffing midwives so that girls can buy from them directly,
shares Mrs. Diop.
This reasoning is confirmed by Ms. Goudiaby, a Badianou Gokh
(disctrict godmother) to Baila, Department of Bignona. There's no
point of distribution for condoms. So it's difficult for young people to
get these products in order to protect themselves, she explained. Ms.
Coly, midwife in Baila, says: in terms of supplying contraceptives,
there is a barrier between young people and I, and I want that to end.
A paradoxical situation is noted in the Nma2 district of Ziguinchor
where stocks are being depleted fast, according to Marcel Niafouna,

president of the association of friendship, solidarity, fraternity, love,

tolerance, agreement (Asfate). According to him, the 60,000 condoms
they receive each quarter, are far from adequate to cover the demands
of young people in this area, where they also promote female
condoms. Unfortunately, girls dont use them yet, he lamented.
BEING SUPPORTED
MS. COLY, MIDWIFE IN THE BAILA HEALTH CENTER
I dont have the authority to supply contraceptives to teenagers.
Supplying contraceptives to teenage girls remains a problem. And for
good reason, notes Ms. Coly, the midwife in Baila, it is not part under
my purview. According to her, we need the presence of the parents.
If they come, we can give it to them without a problem. Nevertheless,
she says that she does not reject girls who come to ask for family
planning. On the contrary, I give them the right information, she
clarifies, insisting on the fact that when girls come with their moms,
often, the moms see contraceptives as an gateway to debauchery. So
we try to convince them until they agree, she said.