Teen pregnancies trending down in Jamaica

 

 

Teenage pregnancies are trending down in Jamaica.

 

This is according to Senior Medical Officer at Victoria Jubilee Hospital, Dr. Garth McDonald, who has lauded government partners, including the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse and Women's Centre of Jamaica Foundation for their work in reducing this burden on the society.

 

Dr. McDonald says young mothers are in need of continued support as, outside of the biological risks, they face significant social and psychological challenges.

 

"Teenage pregnancy and its impact and effect goes way beyond just young girls getting pregnant and all the psychosocial stresses. The anguish that a young teen mother goes through with a lack of social support, psychological support and all the stigma that is attached to that puts her at significant risk," he asserted.

 

Meanwhile, Novlette Howell, Executive Director of the Women Centre, said the facility, which caters to girls up to 19 years, has seen less than two per cent of repeat teenage mothers.

 

Ms. Howell said the continued success of the programmes offered in the 14 centres across the island, is dependent on funding support. 

 

"So we do face some challenges.... Most of our young ladies are from the lower socioeconomic background. So we have girls coming from as far as St. Mary coming into our centre in Highgate or Portland, and the biggest challenge we have, they are not able to afford bus fares. So of course, if they can't afford bus fares, they can't come to school. So that is our main challenge. They want to come, but they can't afford the bus fares. So of course we have to dig in our pockets to assist them. We do give them two hot meals a day. So that is also very important. Most times they come for the hot meals and of course the education and the nursery," she noted.