Pregnant, alone and abandoned: Young mothers speak :: Mmegi Online

Many girls and young women find themselves abandoned during pregnancy and after birth by their partners, left to raise their children alone. Adjusting to this strange new reality is often very difficult. Mmegi Correspondent, NNASARETHA KGAMANYANE speaks to a few young mothers

Being a young mother can be challenging. Raising a child is a challenging experience more especially for first-time young mothers. It is even more challenging for a single mother. Each day young, single mothers in society face financial struggles, lack of support, emotional battles and more.

Available statistics show the burden young women and girls are bearing in the country. According to a recent Women and Girls UNFPA Botswana report, the country’s teenage pregnancy rate is estimated at 10% of the total population of teenage girls, while HIV prevalence of girls aged between 15 to 29 years is over 20%.

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