BUJUMBURA, March 17th (ABP) – Parents are urged to engage in dialogue with their children about sexuality to combat early and unwanted pregnancies. This was a wink by midwife Augustin Harushimana in an interview with a check by ABP.
According to the latest statistics published by the Ministry of Health, in 2023, nearly 42,000 births were recorded among children under the age of 18, and more than 1,500 abortions. Harushimana emphasizes that early pregnancies are caused by several factors, including a lack of information among minors, the taboo surrounding sexuality among parents, their irresponsibility, the socioeconomic difficulties of some families, the lack of relationships between parents and children, and the wrong crowds. Harushimana continues to point out that these children are exposed to several harmful consequences, including loss of life, infertility, school dropout, mental health problems, and social isolation.
Harushimana advises parents to develop a deep relationship with their children and strengthen dialogue about sexuality to better guide them during their adolescence. Furthermore, she recommends that sex education be taught in schools to reduce children’s curiosity about sexuality, while strengthening youth-friendly health centers to support them when needed.