Strategies to prevent teenage pregnancies |01 June 2018
May was Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Month – a time dedicated to educating teenagers about pregnancy prevention by 
delaying sexual activity in young people.
Teenage pregnancy occurs in adolescents between 13 – 19 years of age and this is regarded as a social and economic issue. It also creates potential health risks for the young mother and her baby.
The Health Promotion Unit at the Ministry of Health is encouraging teenagers to analyse a situation where they are expecting a baby at their age; What will they will do if they become pregnant early? How will this change their life plans; How will they cope with being a parent? How will they incorporate this into their life?
Maryline Hollanda, programme manager for Sexual Reproductive Health at the Ministry of Health, lists some factors that can lead to teenage pregnancies, as well as the consequences, and some strategies that can help to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Factors that can lead to teenage pregnancies
- Lack of a sense of personal responsibility for own actions and thinking that actions have no consequences.
- Alcohol and/or drug abuse leading to poor sexual decisions.
- Lack of maturity.
- Peer pressure: Young girls engage in early sexual activity to satisfy boys and young boys want to impress their friends to be able to ‘fit in’.
- Lack of knowledge/education regarding sex and its consequences.
- Being too embarrassed to ask for information or access to contraceptives.
- Not understanding biological and emotional aspects associated with having sex.
- Receiving incorrect information about sexual activity from friends, the internet and movies.
- Lack of guidance from parents (e.g. parents are too busy or too young & immature).
- As a result of sexual abuse or rape.
Consequences
- Abortions, due to unwanted pregnancies (70% of teenage pregnancies are unwanted); some of which are not legal (backstreet) and can lead to a number of health problems.
- Sexually transmitted infections/diseases(STIs).
- Child neglect as the parents are too young to properly care for a child.
- Medical problems, e.g. premature labour & post-partum depression.
- School drop-outs and ruined dreams.
- Financial hardships and decreased job opportunities. Many young parents receive minimum wage and this creates a financial strain to provide for the baby.
Prevention strategies
- Comprehensive sexuality education: Research shows that sexuality education at school helps by delaying sexual activities in teenagers and helps them to make better, more informed decisions, e.g. reducing number of sexual partners & increasing the use of contraception.
- Communication between parents and children: If there are barriers in parent-child communication, parents cannot give advice, so it is best to start talking about sex and its consequences, using age-appropriate language, before children become teenagers. Parents should also encourage children to ask them questions without judgement.
- Youth development programmes to encourage young people to plan their future and to make use of what is accessible to them, e.g. arts, after-school curricula & academic assistance, to become well rounded adults.
- Promoting abstinence from sex; this is 100% effective at preventing early pregnancies and STIs. If they cannot abstain, then access to contraception can reduce sexual risk behaviours.
- Free, confidential services for sexually active teenagers to ensure that they have what is necessary to protect them against pregnancies and STIs. In Seychelles, teenagers can be given consent by their parents to access contraception at the age of 15.
- Campaigns targeting boys, not just girls: Target messages usually aim to educate girls, but boys have equal weight and responsibility as girls with regard to sexual activity and teenage pregnancy. They should therefore be involved in the conversation.
- Positive peer influence: Young people need to choose their friends carefully - good friends who want what is best for them.
For further information, contact:
- Your nearest Health Centre: 4 388 000
- Youth Health Centre: 4 388 383
- Health Promotion Unit, Ministry of Health: 4 388 060
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