Eastern province had 24, 731 teen pregnancies in 2018

Over 24, 000 teenage pregnancies were recorded across Eastern Province among adolescents of the ages between 12 and 20 in 2018.

Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo has disclosed that from the 24, 731 teen pregnancies recorded, over 5, 000 were recorded in Chipata while Lundazi recorded 4, 898 cases.

Mr. Kasolo, who is shocked by the glaring number of teen pregnancies in the province, has told journalists that Petauke recorded 3, 792, while Katete 2, 675 and Nyimba 1, 481 teen pregnancies.

He says Chadiza recorded 1, 419, while Mambwe had 1,198 with Vubwi recording the lowest number of 560 cases.

The Eastern province permanent secretary has attributed this increase in the number of teenage pregnancies in the province to peer pressure, traditions and high poverty levels.

He has since called interventions to arrest the issue of teen pregnancies in Eastern Province.