The Ministry of Health is defending its proposal to lower the age of consent for contraceptive use from 18 to 15, citing high teenage pregnancy and child mortality rates.
Appearing before the Chamber of Deputies’ Committee on Social Affairs on Monday, Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana emphasized the need to expand access to reproductive health services for adolescents. The proposal is part of a draft law regulating healthcare in Rwanda. Nsanzimana clarified that the government does not intend to lower the legal age of majority but seeks to revise the age of consent for reproductive health services, including contraception, in line with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
“Our wish is to lower the age of consent from 18 to 15 because WHO recommends that individuals requiring healthcare services should receive them without needing parental or guardian consent,” Nsanzimana said. He warned that denying adolescents access to reproductive health services leads to unintended pregnancies and related health risks.
Addressing Teenage Pregnancies and Child Mortality
Dr. Athanase Rukundo, acting head of clinical and public health at the Ministry of Health, presented statistics highlighting the urgency of the issue. According to the 2022 national census, 39,273 teenage girls became pregnant. Data from the ministry shows that between June 2023 and July 2024, 8,000 girls under 18 received antenatal care, accounting for 2% of all pregnancies attended to at health facilities. Additionally, one in three legally induced abortions involved minors under 18.
Rukundo also cited a Demographic and Health Survey by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, which found that 69% of child deaths occur among children born to mothers under 20. Furthermore, 34% of stunted children in Rwanda are born to mothers under 20.
“As we strive to combat child stunting, preventing unintended pregnancies among adolescents must be part of the solution,” Rukundo said.
Sexual Activity Trends Among Adolescents
Dr. Aline Uwimana, division manager of maternal, child, and community health at Rwanda Biomedical Centre, referenced a 2023 study showing that 51% of Rwandan children had engaged in sexual intercourse by age 12 or younger. She warned that early exposure increases risks of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Uwimana also noted that more than 70% of 18- and 19-year-olds lack access to contraception due to the current law requiring parental consent for minors seeking such services.
Despite the ministry’s justification, some lawmakers expressed reservations about the proposal, citing concerns that easier access to contraception could encourage early sexual activity, increase STD exposure, and lead to health risks associated with contraceptive methods such as pills and injectables. They called for stronger measures to safeguard children’s rights, promote abstinence, and ensure young people are raised in stable and supportive family environments.