By Chipo Tsitsi Mlambo
The adultification of pregnant children refers to a bias in which adults treat minors as if they possess the maturity
and understanding of adults. In Zimbabwe, this bias is particularly evident when pregnant children seek antenatal
care in urban centers like Harare.
Phrases such as “Watoo amai, watokura” (You are now a mother, you are a grown-up) or “Wakaita zvevakuru” (You engaged in a grown-up act i.e. sex) imply that once a girl becomes pregnant, she is no longer viewed as a 14 or 15- year-old but rather as an adult deserving of adult treatment. This perception strips these children of the protection they desperately need.
The real tragedy is that these children often feel unsafe in environments where they should be able to access critical
services, such as clinics for antenatal care. Lacking support creates barriers to accessing care, and some end up
opting for home deliveries, which can lead to life-threatening consequences for both the child and her unborn baby.
Recently, while advocating for free antenatal care for twenty pregnant children, one organization asked me to send
five of them into town for registration. I was taken aback and asked several follow-up questions.
Would they provide transportation? Would an adult chaperone accompany these pregnant children as they left their
community? Would they receive the antenatal services they needed once they arrived in town? The youngest of
these pregnant children is just 14 years old, while the oldest is 17. The answer to all my questions was no. The trip to
the city center was solely for the children to fill out forms; the actual services would be provided back in their
community. When I asked why the forms couldn’t be sent directly to the clinic to spare the children the trip, I did not
receive a satisfactory response.
I also recently assisted in admitting a pregnant 12-year-old who had to stay in the hospital for a few days before
undergoing a C-section. In the waiting area, one mother asked me if there was any way to move the child out of the
general ward. She explained that various nurses kept approaching and “marvelling” at how young the girl was, and
she noticed that each time it happened, it upset the child.
What these nurses failed to realize was that with each remark, they further re-victimized the child and compounded
her trauma. In preparing her for labor, I had built up the nurses as “her moms,” supportive figures who would help
her; yet they were now treating her in a way that ignored her vulnerability. In that moment, they seemed to forget
that she was just a 12-year-old who had been sexually violated, leading to this pregnancy, and understandably
terrified of what lay ahead.
As a Maternal Health Advocate working with these children, I often find myself lobbying for their consideration and
respect. Unfortunately, in our context, being a patient advocate can lead to being labeled as disrespectful or rude,
simply for advocating basic respect for these children.
I urge all of us who provide services to remember this: The next time you encounter a pregnant child aged 12, 15, or
16 etc, please stop and reflect on the myriad of challenges she faces. Understand that she is just a child, burdened by
issues that her immature body and mind cannot fully comprehend due to unfair and unjust circumstances. Commit
to being the safe and affirming adult she likely does not have in her life.
To our clinicians, especially those in public health facilities, I recognize that you may be overwhelmed and under-
compensated. I admire your dedication, but please strive to elevate your standard of care for these pregnant
children and ground your care in compassion and understanding.
Remember your training: Do no harm.
Chipo Tsitsi Mlambo is a Maternal, Newborn and Reproductive Justice Advocate in Harare. She is the Founder and Executive Director of RhoNaFlo Foundati on – A rapid response organization in Zimbabwe supporting vulnerable teen moms and their babies
