The number of adolescent mothers in Jamaica continues to decline.
The latest figures from the Registrar General Department show that since 2009 to 2014 there was a slight reduction in live births among teenagers.
Adolescents are categorised as those under 15 years and between 15 to 19 years.
In 2009, there were 293 live births in the under 15 age group. This figure dropped to 114 in 2014.
For the 15 to 19 age group, there was a 19.7 per cent decrease moving from 7,482 in 2009 to 6,009 in 2014.
The National Family Planning Board (NFPB) included the figures in a brief on Adolescent Pregnancy released on January 28 this year.
It said the decline in live births could be attributed to increased contraceptive use and awareness, as well as increased access to information and services in social media.
The NFPB said while it found the declining trends promising, it was essential that legislative barriers to Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health be addressed.
The NFPB has suggested that teenagers have access to condoms in schools and other reproductive health services.
However, this has been dismissed by the Ministry of Education.
Meanwhile, the National Family Planning Board report also pointed out that Jamaica was doing worse than less developed countries and Latin America and the Caribbean in managing the problem of live births in the 15 to 19 age group.
This is when comparing global figures on adolescent birth rate/age-specific fertility rate.
In Jamaica, the average is 72 per cent while in less developed countries it is 53 per cent.
Jamaica also has a high rate compared with Latin America and the Caribbean at an average of 60 per cent.
These have all surpassed the international rate of 49 per cent.
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