teen pregnancy facts - worldwide according to unfpa state of the world population 2013, every day in...
TRANSCRIPT
Teen Pregnancy Facts - Worldwide
According to UNFPA State of the World
Population 2013, every day in developing
countries, 20,000 girls below age 18 give birth.
9 out of 10 of these births occur within marriage
or a union.
Teen Pregnancy Facts – St. Maarten
In 2007, 10.37% of all births on St. Maarten
were to teen mothers. Less than 5% of those
births occurred in a marriage or union.
WE DEFINITELY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
TEEN PREGNANCY ON ST. MAARTEN.
At the tender age of 17, our interviewee became pregnant. While her
family was very supportive to her, in the beginning her mom took it very hard,
nonetheless, she stood by her and supported her.
Our interviewee took it upon herself to take on the responsibilities that
came with being pregnant. She left her mother’s home and cared for her son.
Three months after the birth of her son, she left to go to college for one year.
During this time, not being with her son, she experienced breasts full
of milk and it was very painful, which brought an emotional strain and burden
for her.
During this time, she was not able to be a mother to her son. She was
also not able to buy things that girls at that age would be able to buy or even to
put money towards her education like she would have want to….
she had to put that money towards raising her son.
Having her son, delayed her education – it took her 10 years to get her
first degree as she had to work and study part-time.
Eventually she had to leave her son a second time to continue her
education. While she took on the responsibility of raising her son,
most of her friends were off to school and it did not allow her to have
much of a social life.
This experience made her life more challenging and took a lot out of
her. The experience also robbed her son of things that a mother
should do for her son, because of these challenges.
She is proud of her son and thinks she has been a good example
showing others to be committed.
She is now the Acting Head of the Education Department on our island.
Solution #1for Teen Pregnancy on St. Maarten
(possibly worldwide)
We need a comprehensive sex education
curriculum within our school system and
society, and a support program that not only
educate but engage youths on the effects of
teenage pregnancy on all aspects of their life.