Teen pregnancies down but still cause for concern, says CISOCA

   

Jamaica has recorded a reduction in the number of teenage pregnancies. 

 

That's the word from Superintendent Kerry-Ann Bailey, head of the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA), who says while there is a drop in the number, the agency remains concerned about the occurrences and the circumstances surrounding these pregnancies.

 

"So we have seen a decline in teen pregnancies, but it's still enough for us to be concerned. The teenage pregnancies usually range between the ages of 12 and 16. And many parents are not aware that their children are involved in sexual activities and it is when they become pregnant that they find out that some things are happening. And some of these pregnancies stem from boyfriend-girlfriend relationships within schools and communities, while others stem from sexual offences perpetrated against them by older family members or other persons they may not have known," she indicated. 

 

Superintendent Bailey was speaking recently on the JCF's Force4Good Podcast.