Delayed marriage irks doctors
Jul 10, 2005
FEW people now marry below the age of 30, a trend which medical workers describe as dangerous for childbearing mothers in that age bracket.
By Charles Ariko
FEW people now marry below the age of 30, a trend which medical workers describe as dangerous for childbearing mothers in that age bracket.
Dr. Zainabu Akol, national coordinator for HIV testing and counselling, on Saturday said more young people were postponing marriage because they had got used to living without partners and without sex.
Akol blamed this on the anti-HIV/AIDS campaign that she said had made young people afraid of getting into meaningful relationships.
“Because of the fear of contracting HIV/AIDS many young people have shunned marriage. Most of them have got used to living without sex even when they have reached 30 years and above.
"The trend now is that there are many women between the ages of 30-35 years who are not married. By the time they bear children, they are likely to experience complications in childbirth,†she said.
She was on Saturday speaking at a ceremony to award certificates to youth trained in reproductive health at the Family Planning Association of Uganda in Kamwokya, Kampala.
Akol said most men tend to marry after 40.
“The life expectancy for Ugandans is about 42 years. When you marry at 40, there are chances that you will not see your children grow to maturity. Whereas abstinence is good, you cannot abstain up to 35 years,†Akol said.
She told the youth to go for testing to know their HIV status. She said the HIV prevalence rates had gone down because most of the youth had abstained from sex.
“There is no need for you to abstain when you do not know your sero status. Go for HIV testing first, then abstain when you know your status.
“Even married couples that want to stay faithful must go for tests. You might think you are faithful when you have not tested, you are actually faithfully spreading or receiving the virus,†Akol said.
FEW people now marry below the age of 30, a trend which medical workers describe as dangerous for childbearing mothers in that age bracket.
Dr. Zainabu Akol, national coordinator for HIV testing and counselling, on Saturday said more young people were postponing marriage because they had got used to living without partners and without sex.
Akol blamed this on the anti-HIV/AIDS campaign that she said had made young people afraid of getting into meaningful relationships.
“Because of the fear of contracting HIV/AIDS many young people have shunned marriage. Most of them have got used to living without sex even when they have reached 30 years and above.
"The trend now is that there are many women between the ages of 30-35 years who are not married. By the time they bear children, they are likely to experience complications in childbirth,†she said.
She was on Saturday speaking at a ceremony to award certificates to youth trained in reproductive health at the Family Planning Association of Uganda in Kamwokya, Kampala.
Akol said most men tend to marry after 40.
“The life expectancy for Ugandans is about 42 years. When you marry at 40, there are chances that you will not see your children grow to maturity. Whereas abstinence is good, you cannot abstain up to 35 years,†Akol said.
She told the youth to go for testing to know their HIV status. She said the HIV prevalence rates had gone down because most of the youth had abstained from sex.
“There is no need for you to abstain when you do not know your sero status. Go for HIV testing first, then abstain when you know your status.
“Even married couples that want to stay faithful must go for tests. You might think you are faithful when you have not tested, you are actually faithfully spreading or receiving the virus,†Akol said.