Introduction and objectives of the project

In Kenya, nearly 18 percent of adolescent and teenage girls are mothers by the age of 18 years. Pregnancy rates increase markedly between 15 and 18 years, from 3% at 15 years to 40% at 19 years.

The rates of teenage pregnancies in Kenya remain highest in Narok County at 40%, Homabay and West Pokot at 33% and 29% respectively and Kilifi at 22%.

In 2015, the International Centre for Reproductive Health Kenya (ICRHK), in collaboration with UNFPA Kenya and the County Government of Kilifi, Department of Health Services, set up an innovative project to demonstrate best practices in providing comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), maternal and child health care to adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 years who were pregnant for the first time (The First-time young mother’s project).  The project is based at Mtwapa Health Centre, a level two government facility in Kilifi South Sub County

Project activities from January to December 2019

Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) sensitized pregnant adolescents and young women (FTYM) on services at the FTYM clinic during routine household visits and provided referrals to Mtwapa Health Centre. Where possible, CHVs escorted the girls to the clinic.

At the health facility, a mentor mother, supported by the project was stationed at the outpatient Department. The mentor mother was a trained CHV, had been a teenage mother and among the first Beneficiaries of the project. The main role of the mentor mother was to link girls and young women referred from the community and from other departments within the health facility to the FTYM clinic.

Referrals within the health facility to the FTYM clinic were mainly from the routine antenatal clinic and the HIV comprehensive care Centre (CCC). Services to FTYM were provided at the FTYM clinic within the outpatient department of Mtwapa Health Centre. One service provided, engaged by ICRHK provided comprehensive antenatal and postnatal care services. HIV testing and ART for PMTCT were also provided at The center;

 Project outcomes   

1. 534 young mother enrolled into antenatal and post natal care in 2019. Cumulatively, 1453 mothers have been enrolled from 2015
2. About 35% are aged 15 to 19 years while the rest are aged between 20 and 24 years
3. 25% of the girls aged 15 to 19 years were married while 54% of those aged 20 to 24 were married
4. All 534 mothers enrolled in 2019 received HIV counselling and testing services. None tested HIV positive.
5. 1% of the pregnant mothers delivered in a health facility in the presence of a trained birth attendant
6. 2% of mothers enrolled in 2019 gave birth to a live infant
7. 99% of post-partum mothers took up family planning
8. For post-partum mothers, the preferred contraceptive method was Depo-Provera (50%). Second most preferred method were implants (33%).