Half of Births in Africa Unplanned: Report

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, August 13, 2002

Half of Births in Africa Unplanned: Report

Over 50 percent of births byadolescents in African countries were unplanned, local newspaper Guardian in Dar es Salaam reported Tuesday.

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Over 50 percent of births byadolescents in African countries were unplanned, local newspaper Guardian in Dar es Salaam reported Tuesday.

Speaking at a meeting on the Sexual Reproductive Health Policy in Morgoro, west of the capital, Regional Administrative Secretary Paul Chikira was quoted as saying that young people in Africa are not receiving the reproductive health information and services they need to protect themselves.

As a result of not receiving information, many youths ended up getting unwanted pregnancies, Chikira said.

He said that in south of the Sahara, it is estimated that one out of five adolescents has one or more children or is pregnant intheir teens.

It leads that some African countries including Tanzania have one of the highest fertility rates in the world as well as cases of HIV infection and AIDS, Chikira said.

These facts suggested that teenagers needed better access to sexual reproductive health services.

Chikira stressed efforts were being made by the Tanzanian government and non-governmental organizations to strengthen sexualreproductive health services.

"We must work together and harmonize our efforts to create programs that meet needs of young people." he added.

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