The town of Basse in the Upper River Region is now The Gambia’s capital of teenage pregnancy.

The administration and business centre of that provincial region has the highest percentage of teen mothers, a new national demographic and health survey reveals. 

The figures of the survey, which emerged last week, appears to confirm claims by gender rights activists that early marriage is still a major issue in Basse and other rural areas.

Twice as many teenagers in rural areas as in urban areas have begun childbearing. This is becoming a major concern for the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

A former nurse at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital now working in the USA has disputed the survey calling it  a ‘fabrication’

She told What’s On-Gambia: “I think it is not accurate, unless they tell us how they reached that conclusion and what research method was used. From experience, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has no proper record keeping.”

She continued: “You can’t just wake up one day and make up figures.”

The demographic and health survey also revealed that violence against women, especially domestic violence, is also on the rise.

What’s On-Gambiacan confirm that the report is not available for members of the public to take a closer look.