The effectiveness of sexual reproductive health campaigns in combating teenage pregnancy in Rwanda : A case study of Kicukiro District

Abstract

Sexual reproductive Health (SRH) education is recognized in combating teenage pregnancy. The general objective was to explore the role played by community campaigns in addressing SRH in Kicukiro District, City of Kigali. The specific objectives of the study were: (1) to investigate the root causes of high rate of teenage pregnancy in Kicukiro District, (2) to explore the way SRH campaign responds to the teenage pregnancy issue in Kicukiro District, and (3) to identify the challenges met during SRH campaign in Kicukiro and propose the way forward. To achieve these objectives, the study adopted a qualitative research design. The target population was composed of 75 people (50 victims of teenage pregnancy, 5 key informants who are local leaders, 5 key informants from concerned ministries, 15 parents of the victims and other parents who are not necessarily parents of the victims); this sample was selected from the total population of 300 people. Data was collected using interviews (in-depth interviews and key informant interviews) and Focus group discussions (FGDs). FGDs and in-depths and key informant interviews have been face to face with respect to COVID19 measures and thematic analysis was performed on transcribed discussions. The findings show that Kicukiro District made a good step to organized campaign to address SRH which is one of the main root causes of teenage pregnancy. In other words, measures to address this phenomenon include access to comprehensive sexuality education for teenagers about SRH as a preventive measure. The findings also highlighted five components that are necessary for good sexual and reproductive health: ensuring contraceptive choice and safety and infertility services, improving maternal and newborn health, reducing sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and other reproductive morbidities, eliminating unsafe abortion and providing post-abortion care and promoting healthy sexuality, including adolescent health, and reducing harmful practices, but above all, organizing community campaign about SRH. This study recommends to adopt a holistic and multi-sectorial approach to address teenage pregnancy in Kicukiro and else.