The number of girls aged between 13 and 16 who are getting pregnant has fallen, new figures show.

The figure was released at the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month official proclamation.

But Mrs. Vivlyn Cooper, Teen Services Board chairperson, said the spotlight should not just be on girls as it takes two people to create a human being.

"Our boys and young men must bear equal responsibility, that's why we must continue to strengthen our efforts in counselling our young males and place more emphasis on the male outreach section of our programme," she said.

The Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation, Dale Butler identified six principles that are essential to the community effort such as increasing public awareness and commitment, motivating teenagers to stay in school, offering them clear guidance on pathways to adulthood and career possibilities, building better partnerships with the community and reducing risky sexual behaviours as well as promoting abstinence.

The main speaker, Coordinator of Maternal Health and Family Planning, Gaynelle Hayward presented the annual statistics for 2006/2007 which revealed that the number of teenaged deliveries for 13 to 16-year-olds had declined.

She said the figure for that age bracket along with the numbers of local termination of pregnancies had steadily declined over the past ten years.

"Unfortunately, in the 17 to 19-year-olds, there was a slight increase of 2.6 percent over the previous year. The figured represented 6.1 percent of the total deliveries," she said.

She said the Government continued to provide collaborative resources such as Teen Services, the Maternal Health and Family Planning Clinic, the Child Health Clinic with school nurses and health visitors along with the Ministry of Education which provides Health Education and Information to empower teens in making informed choices.

Mrs. Hayward added: "The risk is not about just getting pregnant because unprotected sex puts you at risk for STI's such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, genital warts and HIV."

Teenagers are encouraged to visit the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy website at www.stayteen.org and take a short scenario based quiz that asks young people what they would do in a number of sexual situations.

Teen Services Executive Director, Michelle Wade said: "The message of the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is clear: sex has consequences.

"The online quiz delivers this message directly to teens and challenges them to think carefully about what they might do during vulnerable moments."

During this month there are a number of events, which will take place.

For the next two Wednesdays there will be an information booth at Harbour Nights, where teens are invited to pop by and fill out a survey and receive free giveaways.

There is also a Teen Pregnancy Prevention poster board at the General Post Office and everyone is encouraged to wear a green ribbon showing support for Teen Pregnancy Prevention.

This archive article requires registration and login to view. Click here to proceed to the login, registration. Archives require payment..

More Ways to Share Article...

Tip a friend
Message:	Your name: Your e-mail address:  To e-mail address: