Teenage Pregnancy in Sierra Leone

Teenage pregnancy is a major issue in Sierra Leone. According to statistics gathered by UNICEF and Sierra Leone's Demographic and Health Survey, 13 per cent of girls are married by their 15th birthday and 39 per cent of girls before their 18th birthday. 

During the COVID-19 lock down period in my community, I noticed at least 10 teenagers who are pregnant. I was fortunate to chat with a few and Fomie Bangura is one of them. 

“I was raped," she stated. “He promised me some money to help with my studies and raped me when I visited him to collect the money. I was asked out of the house by my parents. I had to go stay with my grandmother. I stopped attending school and started selling (fana makit). 


I also spoke to Aminata Bangura (photo inset). She works for Save the Children Sierra Leone. According to her, peer pressure, other influences, and poverty are some of the reasons leading to teenage pregnancy. She also mentioned that teenage girls face lots of constraints. They suffer from stigmatization and most times become drop outs from school.

Aminatta said to cut down on the high rate of teenage pregnancy in Murray Town, workshops should be conducted regularly to sensitize young girls in the community about sex education.

Kadijatu Bah is a third-year social work student at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. She is the inaugural recipient of the Hannah Deen for Social Care Scholarship Award. 

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