Consequences of teen and unplanned pregnancies highlighted
Photos
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Photo by Mark Tatem Minister of Health Zane DeSilva speaks at a press conference on teen pregnancy prevention flanked by staff from the Department of Health and Teen Services.
Teenage pregnancy in Bermuda has halved in the past 20 years, according to Health Minister Zane DeSilva.
He said there were 140 teen pregnancies in 1990, but only 71 reported between April 2009 and March 2010.
His comments were made on Teen Pregnancy Prevention Day, which was recognised by the Health Ministry on Wednesday.
At a press conference then, Mr DeSilva stressed the importance of educating students on pregnancy prevention before they completed their secondary education.
He said that a child born to an unmarried teen mother who fails to graduate from high school is nine times more likely to live in poverty than a child born into a stable marriage of two high school graduates.
“In fact, the vast majority of unplanned pregnancies in Bermuda occur in women of age 20 to 30, and not in teenagers at all.
“These unplanned pregnancies represent a significant challenge for young women, their partners and for society. You may be surprised to know that many of the same negative outcomes for teen pregnancies apply to unplanned pregnancies in women of any age.”
Government senior medical officer Cheryl Peek Ball said Government was devoting the rest of the year to pushing the message.
“For this month we will have radio advertisements, public service announcements and a CITV interview.
“What we are most excited about is our open house day at the Maternal Health and Family Planning Clinic in September,” she said.
“That’s in our Hamilton Health Centre, and it will specifically target high school seniors.”
Both male and female condoms are available free at government clinics and through Teen Services.
Teen Services executive director Michelle Wade added: “Teen Services will be at Harbour Nights on May 18 and 25 as part of our work to raise awareness. We also urge young people to log on to the stayteen website to take the online survey on teen sexual health.”
l Useful websites: www.thenationalhealthcampaign.org, www.stayteen.org, www.cdc.org.
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Published May 6, 2011 at 8:54 am (Updated May 6, 2011 at 8:54 am)