At the age of 18, Cynthia Omondi considered ending her life. This was after she fell victim to what every young girl is afraid of - getting pregnant while still at school.

In a society that often sees such circumstances as a failure, she was forced to hide her pregnancy, depriving herself of essential antenatal care until her eighth month.

"I had to leave school because my family was ashamed of my pregnancy and I had to hide. Without proper information, I stayed without antenatal care and only sought help when I was eight months pregnant," says Cynthia.

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Throughout her pregnancy, Cynthia endured the weight of social stigma and even contemplated suicide. But the birth of her daughter marked a turning point in her life.

She joined a programme for teenage mothers, which aims to provide adolescent girls with comprehensive support in areas such as HIV, reproductive health, maternal and child health, water sanitation, hygiene and nutrition.

This programme equipped her with vital knowledge and skills necessary for both self-care as a new mother and the well-being of her child.

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Her thirst for knowledge did not end there, as she enrolled in computer studies. And with these new skills, she embarked on a mission to empower other teenage girls in her community in Shabab, Nakuru West Sub-county.

"I now train twenty teenage girls. From new mothers to those who are still pregnant, I share the knowledge and skills I've gained where we have monthly meetings and follow ups with the girls," she says proudly.

According to Ms Omondi, the support groups are important because they provide psychosocial and emotional support, enabling teenage mothers to cope with the challenges of adolescence and the responsibilities of parenthood.

These support groups she says are proving instrumental in combating social stigma. "The challenges not only affect the mental health of these girls, but also influence their parenting behaviour, which can put the health of their babies at risk," she points out.

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She would like to see girls who have been forced to drop out of school due to pregnancy able to return to school after giving birth, as they have the potential to achieve a lot in society.

mercykihugu@gmail.com

Surviving the scars of teenage pregnancy: A Shabab woman's brave story of overcoming despair

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Mercy Kihugu