Muhanga parents urged to talk to children about sexual health to prevent teen pregnancies

Parents in Muhanga District have been urged to talk openly with their children about sexual and reproductive health to help prevent teenage pregnancies, sexual abuse and sexually transmitted infections.

The call was made during a community awareness campaign held in Nyarusange Sector on October 8, organised by the Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB), in partnership with the National Union of Disability Organizations in Rwanda (NUDOR) and other partners, under the Beyond Boundaries project.

Venantie Mukanziza, Vice Chairperson of RUB, said many young people face challenges because they lack reliable information about their sexual and reproductive health, leaving them vulnerable to unintended pregnancies and other consequences.

“Today, we conducted this awareness campaign to encourage young people to take care of themselves by seeking reliable and comprehensive information about their sexual and reproductive health,” she said.

Mukanziza said parents sometimes avoid discussing sexual health with their children, while young people who are out of school may have even fewer opportunities to access accurate information.

She added that early education about adolescence and reproductive health could help young people make informed decisions and avoid risks associated with unprotected sexual activity.

According to Samuel Kamangu, the District Medical Officer for Muhanga, Nyarusange was selected for the campaign because it ranked first among the district’s 12 sectors in the number of teenage girls who had given birth at home, according to the district’s assessment.

He urged parents and young people to communicate more openly about bodily changes during adolescence and the consequences of early pregnancy.

“When a girl becomes pregnant while she is still a child, she takes on the responsibility of raising another child while she is still young herself. Some leave school, and others end up on the streets,” Kamangu said.

He also called on residents to help prevent sexual abuse, particularly against people with disabilities, who may face additional barriers when seeking help or reporting perpetrators.

Protecting young people with disabilities

Marie Louise Manirakiza, Advocacy and Communication Officer at NUDOR and coordinator of the Beyond Boundaries project, said the campaign also seeks to prevent gender-based violence and help young people navigate adolescence safely.

She said parents have a responsibility to educate their children, monitor their well-being and seek assistance from nearby health facilities when problems arise.

Manirakiza warned that young people who lack reliable information may turn to peers for advice, exposing themselves to misinformation, unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

She emphasised that young people with disabilities can face particular risks of sexual abuse, especially when communication barriers or stigma prevent them from reporting what happened.

People with hearing or speech impairments, visual impairments and intellectual disabilities may encounter difficulties disclosing abuse and accessing appropriate support, she said.

However, she noted that the extent of the problem is difficult to establish because many survivors do not report abuse or related health complications.

“Parents are the first people who should teach children and young people how to behave and make informed decisions. We urge them to open up and talk to their children about sexual and reproductive health,” Manirakiza said.

She added that cultural discomfort around discussing sexuality should not prevent families from providing young people with the information they need to protect themselves.

Supporting survivors of sexual abuse

The campaign is part of the three-year Beyond Boundaries project, which began in 2026 and is expected to run until 2028.

Jeanne d’Arc Hyguette Nsabimana, a project officer for Beyond Boundaries and RUB staff member, said the initiative targets vulnerable young people, including girls who gave birth before the age of 18 and young women who have experienced sexual abuse.

The project operates in five districts through five organisations, with NUDOR serving as the coordinating organisation. RUB implements activities in Muhanga District, particularly in Nyarusange Sector.

Its objectives include improving comprehensive sexuality education in schools and communities, empowering young people with multiple vulnerabilities to make informed decisions about their bodies, and improving access to inclusive, youth-friendly services.

Activities include community outreach campaigns, discussions between parents and young people, and sessions in which teenage mothers and survivors of gender-based violence can share experiences to help other young people understand the consequences of risky sexual behaviour.

Nsabimana said the project also supports survivors in accessing justice.

For Angelique Nyirahagenima, a resident of Ngaru Cell in Nyarusange Sector, access to information and support has helped her better understand sexual health and how to protect herself and others.

Nyirahagenima said she was raped when she was 17 and became pregnant. Her child is now seven years old.

She said the Beyond Boundaries project has provided her with various forms of support, while the awareness campaign helped her learn more about sexual and reproductive health.

“Before, I did not know these things. A boy could deceive you by saying that having sex would not result in pregnancy, or that you could not become pregnant if you had sex while standing,” she said.

Nyirahagenima said the knowledge she has gained will help her warn other girls against misinformation and guide survivors towards services where they can receive assistance.

She encouraged anyone who experiences sexual violence to seek medical care as soon as possible and report the case to the appropriate authorities, including an Isange One Stop Centre, where survivors can access support and assistance in pursuing justice.

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