The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, says unplanned pregnancy is capable of causing rejection and stigmatization for women and girls. She said this at the launch of the State of World Population (SWOP) Report in Abuja on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the SWOP Report is an annual publication of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) since 1978, aimed at throwing more light on emerging issues in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).
It is an annual observance by the international body to project its stand on a particular subject matter, essentially designed to congregate issues on the world population into the mainstream and explore challenges and opportunities they present for international development.
It is simply the state in which the world population is living, with regards to the different parameters of life, alongside the need for a free and wholesome life for everyone.
The report has “Seeing The Unseen: The Case for Action in the Crisis of Unintended Pregnancy” as its theme for 2022.
Tallen, who said that “rejection and stigmatization from the society can lead to depression”, added that “poor nutritional intake for the mother and child may be linked to greater risk of developmental delays for children.”
The minister, therefore, reiterated the need for a concerted effort to address the challenge, saying victims of unwanted pregnancies need support.
She added that “victims of unwanted pregnancies do not need our pity, but our support in rehabilitating and reintegrating them into the society.”
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Kwarra, had identified Sexual Reproductive and Health Rights (SRHRS) as key to addressing unintended pregnancy.
Kwarra expressed dissatisfaction over the inability of women and girls to make choices over their sexual lives.
He said “almost a quarter of all women across the globe are unable to say no to sex and equally unable to make decisions about their own healthcare.
“Most often, women and girls find themselves in situations that inhibit them from exercising their fundamental rights and having opportunities to make decisions on issues that affect their reproductive lives.”
He identified unintended pregnancy particularly among teenagers as a major health concern in every nation.
He said, “unintended pregnancy, particularly among teenagers or adolescent girls, is a major health concern, as it is associated with high morbidity and mortality of both mother and child, including outcomes of malnutrition.”
Erika Goldson, the Deputy Country Representative of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), said the real effect caused by unintended pregnancy on quality of life is complex.
Goldson, who blamed the persistence of unintended pregnancy on gender inequality, said that “the lack of education is also one of the causes.
“The real damage to quality of life is incalculable and complex. Globally, unintended pregnancies are higher in countries with high levels of gender inequality circumstances.”