KASENENGWA district of Eastern province has recorded over 700 teenage pregnancies during quarter two and three of 2024.

District Commissioner, Rachael Phiri, says in quarter two, a total of 321 teenage pregnancies were recorded while 382 were recorded in quarter three.

ZANIS reports that Ms Phiri revealed this during the Adolescent Health Technical Working group meeting.

She noted that in quarter two, out of the 321 cases recorded, 13 were girls aged below the age of 15 while 308 were aged between 15 and 19.

Ms Phiri added that in the last quarter, of the 382 teenage pregnancies recorded, 20 were girls below the age of 15 while 362 were girls aged between 15 and 19.

She has since called for consented efforts from various stakeholders to ensure that the causes of teenage pregnancies are addressed as the figures being recorded are alarming.

‘’Let us mobilise ourselves, as key stakeholders, traditional and religious leaders, government and all cooperating partners to ensure that we address the root causes of teenage pregnancies among adolescents in the district. 

“The cases of teenage pregnancies are not reducing, hence we need to bring every stakeholder on board if we are to see the statistics reducing,’’ she said.

District Education Board Secretary (DEBS), Mathias Chuunga, said a total of 43 girls dropped out of schools in quarter three after falling pregnant.

Mr Chuunga, however, added that 16 girls were readmitted in school in the last quarter after expiry of their maternity leaves.