CULTURE, illiteracy and poverty have been cited as the major causes of teenage pregnancies and early marriage at the Coast. The region, which has benefited from a Sh90 million sponsorship programme from the European Union on maternal health issues, is ranked the highest in fertility rates in the country. According to experts, the province has a surging number of young mothers. Women and girls in the region, however, rank among the least educated in the country.
Speaking during the launch of 'delivery for young mother's project' at St Lukes Hospital in Kaloleni, EU head of social and environment sector Daniel Plas said their target is to improve maternal health in arid and semi-arid areas especially in Coast province. "We want to work with stakeholders, Health ministry, community health volunteers and the society to improve health," Plas said.
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