The National Population commission (NPC) has raised the alarm over increasing incidence of teenage pregnancy in the country, describing the development as worrisome.
The commission accused parents of failure to inculcate moral discipline in their female children.
NPC commissioner representing Enugu State, Dr. Festus Uzor, spoke during the commemoration of the 2013 World Population Day in Enugu.
Represented by Mrs. Ngozi Onyia, Uzor said teenage pregnancy has health, social and economic implications, adding that it not only imposes severe health and psychological strains on the baby and the teen mothers, but also have long term negative impacts on sustainable development efforts.
Uzor noted that teen pregnancy worsens the population and reproductive health situation and compromises genuine efforts to promote gender equity, educational attainment, family values and economic development.
Other negative effects of the situation include unsafe abortion, pregnancy complications, poor ante- natal care, weal pelvic bones, high fertility rate and unstable marital life.
He identified poverty, intercourseual abuse, ignorance and cultural beliefs as major reasons responsible for the increasing incidence of teenage pregnancy in the country.
Uzor said: "We are concerned about the rapid increase in teenage pregnancy because it is getting to an alarming proportion despite the efforts of the government to campaign against. As we talk, the teenage maternal mortality rate at 0.822 per 1000 women in Nigeria is high."
He, therefore, urged parents to rise up to the challenge by educating their children on intercourse education so as to prevent them from learning it from inappropriate sources.
Commending the Enugu State Government for incorporating intercourse education in its school curriculum both at the primary and secondary levels, Uzor said: "Early intercourse education for the female ones should be encouraged."
National Mirror