Juvenile Mothers

Early motherhood is a big social problem in eastern Cameroon. 12, 13-year-old girls get pregnant, and it is no surprise to meet an 18-year-old mother of three or four children. This phenomenon is common, not just in poor or pathological families, which is the case in developed countries, but also in the homes of better-off. The problem has a cultural background. It follows the tradition of having a large number of children, mainly perceived as work labour at home, the role of women, which comes down to giving birth and caring for offspring, and sexuality developed differently than in the Western culture, which is connected, among others, with polygamy. Teenage mothers gain respect of the environment, but motherhood usually shatters the possibility of further education and self-development. Most are reliant on each other and help of their family, as the father of the child rarely feels responsible.