Cervical Cancer Increase Among Teens Linked To Early Sex.
Early sex has been blamed for an increase in cervical cancer cases among girls in Kwale.
According to county nursing officer Edward Mumbo, many young mothers under the age of 25 have been diagnosed with the disease.
County health studies reveal that a large percentage of women are infected with the human papillomavirus, which causes cervical cancer.
99 women aged 20 to 64 were diagnosed with cervical cancer out of 205 cancer cases.
According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPV is responsible for nine out of every ten cases of cervical cancer.
Mumbo states that the vast majority have been diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS.
According to the official, many teenage girls engage in sex because of a lack of sexual education.
HEALTH: County Nursing officer Edward Mumbo at Mvindeni health dispensary in Kwale county’s Msambweni constituency on April 15, 2022. Image:Â SHABAN OMAR
He noted that the increased rate of sexually transmitted diseases and HPV cases demonstrates unequivocally that people in Kwale begin sexual activities at a very young age, and this is due to poor parenting.
According to Mumbo, the increasing number of teen unwanted pregnancy and STI infection cases demonstrate that many people in the region do not use protection.
He stated that approximately 36% of women giving birth in county public health facilities are under the age of 19.
According to Mumbo, parents do not explain sexual reproduction and the dangers of premature sex to their children.
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The nurse blamed the current situation on outdated traditions and cultures of not discussing sex with children.
He says the main cause of this problem is the habit of pampering teens by denying them the truth about their body changes.
According to Mumbo, there is a need to break the silence on sexual reproduction and healthy menstrual hygiene.
Christine Mwaka Mvurya, the county ambassador for menstrual hygiene, recently reported a 10% decrease in teen pregnancy cases.
She stated that the region recorded approximately 4,000 cases this year, compared to more than 8,000 in previous years.
However, Mumbo believes that more needs to be done to provide children with adequate guidance and counselling.
He stated that parents should not be afraid of their children and should talk to them in order for them to become responsible citizens and avoid unwanted pregnancies and lifetime infections.
According to the officer, stakeholders and parents should work together to prevent children from engaging in early sexual activities.
He claims that most of the time, mothers are left to raise their children alone while male parents abdicate their responsibilities.
Mumbo advised parents to take their daughters for cervical cancer screening in order to detect and treat the disease early.
He stated that the region has about nine health facilities that provide chemotherapy treatment.
At the same time, residents were urged to get vaccinated against HPV, particularly girls aged 10 to 14 years.
Last year, Girls on a Mission chairperson Edith Waziri stated that at least two cases of cancer are reported every day, with seven out of ten women dying from cervical cancer each year.
Cervical Cancer Increase Among Teens Linked To Early Sex
