Teen Pregnancy Prevention Day
Today [May 4] has been designated as Teen Pregnancy Prevention Day in Bermuda, and is intended to raise awareness about the value of preventing pregnancy during the teenage years.
Health Minister Zane DeSilva said, “Tragically, a child born to an unmarried teen mother who does not graduate from high school is 9 times more likely to live in poverty than a child born into a stable marriage of two high school graduates.”
He explained that “Over the past two decades in Bermuda, the numbers of pregnancies to girls under age 20 has steadily fallen. While over 140 such cases occurred in 1990, the number steadily declined over the past 20 years, and in 2010, there were half as many cases. To be exact, between April 2009 and March 2010, there were 71 pregnancies in girls age 19 and under.”
Pictured below: Nursing Supervisor for Maternal Health and Family Planning at the Department of Health Gaynell Hayward; Public Health Nurse with the Department of Health Gloria Burgess; Executive Director of Teen Services Michelle Wade; Public Health Nurse with the Department of Health Rachel Card; The Minister of Health Zane DeSilva; Public Health Nurse with the Department of Health Susan Pedro; Teen Services social worker Nina Jones; and Senior Medical Officer for the Department of Health Dr. Cheryl Peek-Ball.
Minister DeSilva’s full remarks follow below:
Today, May 4th has been designated as Teen Pregnancy Prevention Day in Bermuda and in the United States. It is a day intended to raise awareness about the value of preventing pregnancy during the teenage years, when most teens are still completing their secondary education.
The benefits of waiting until adulthood to become a parent are well proven. Teenagers who focus on completing high school before starting a family have more work opportunities, a chance at higher education and ultimately earn more money as adults than those who have a child as teenagers.
Tragically, a child born to an unmarried teen mother who does not graduate from high school is 9 times more likely to live in poverty than a child born into a stable marriage of two high school graduates.
Fortunately, over the past two decades in Bermuda, the numbers of pregnancies to girls under age 20 has steadily fallen. While over 140 such cases occurred in 1990, the number steadily declined over the past 20 years, and in 2010, there were half as many cases. To be exact, between April 2009 and March 2010, there were 71 pregnancies in girls age 19 and under.
We have made good progress in the area of teen pregnancy prevention by collaborations between the Department of Health, the Department of Education, Teen Services and other dedicated agencies. Although we still have a way to go before no young person’s education is interrupted by an unplanned pregnancy, the success in teen pregnancy prevention in Bermuda is something the entire community should applaud.
This year, the focus of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Day is not simply on reducing teenage pregnancies, but on reducing all unplanned pregnancies. In fact, the vast majority of unplanned pregnancies in Bermuda occur in women ages 20-30, 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. When a baby arrives without prior preparation and planning, the baby’s life begins without many of the advantages of babies whose parents planned and welcomed its arrival.
Unplanned pregnancies often do not receive early antenatal care and babies in this situation have a higher rate of being born with low birth weights, or being born prematurely.
This places an additional strain on the health care system when specialized care is required following birth. It also places the newborn at greater risk for health problems, developmental delays, poor school performance and behavior problems, which put a strain on the educational system. And sadly, children resulting from unplanned pregnancies suffer higher rates of neglect and abuse.
Therefore, on this day I would like to add my voice to the many other voices in the community urging all young people, no matter the age, to prevent pregnancy until they are adults, have completed their education, are emotionally mature, and financially able to meet all the needs of a child.
Planning your pregnancy enables you to have a better life. Family planning is a way to create the life you want. So talk to your partner. And have the conversation with your doctor. Make sure you are protected from an unplanned pregnancy.
“Take charge, not chances!”
19 and under. So the stats are being massaged.
We take a day to what? Talk about teen pregnancies? Encourage them? Have them?
What we need is a comprehensive in school female skills program about the consequences of teen pregnancy; a program offering counseling, birth control options, and empowerment. Clearly, males are not to be trusted with taking the lead here and women are marginalized. To heck with the photo opps, make such programs mandatory in all school -not subject to PTA and religious phobias- and maybe we will start getting somewhere.
Well said – too long have we avoided the obvious issues of the “sensitive” nature of sex, pregnancy prevention and the long term consequences of kids having kids. Positive role models are great but at the end of the day, education and frank discussion is key to reducing these unfortunate situations. I’m glad to hear that teenage pregnancy is on the decline, now we have to tackle the problem of “career baby makers” by multiple non-present fathers.
Sex Education is taught in schools and it is geared to both male and female students and areas mentioned are covered.
Lucky man ! Cheesy Grin !
” feel the love ” how many plp ministers felt the love ? and how mny of them have a love child ?
They do stuff like this and then the age of consent is 16. That doesn’t help deter teens from having sex when they know they can, and do. Safe sex and more education is needed, this is a good start.
WELL I GUESS THAT IF THE TEENS DID NOT HAVE BABIES THE BIRTH RATE WOULD BE LOWER THEN WHAT WE HAVE I DO NOT KNOW, THIS IS NOT TO ENCOURAGE TEENS BUT IT IS A FACT.
pregnancy isn’t the only thing that needs to be discussed, its also safe sex. either the girls are ignorant or unaware of the fact that there are deseases going around. i know quite a few young women who have had to deal with having something because of going bareback. where are the parents? where is the education? younger and younger these children are trying to do things that adults are affiliated with (drinking, drugs, sex, violence), and far too often we turn a blind eye to it all.
so what exactly will take place cause honestly i’m tired of the same tired safe sex talk. show them something different cause clearly the photos of stds isn’t working.
They should be taught not just to avoid pregnancy, but if they do get Pregnant that it costs MONEY! to support a child! It takes effort and dedication from two people, not just one! I think Family planning is more relevant to give young people a perspective. Unless your from a wealthy background, having kids as a teen in Bermuda, you will end up broke and working 2 jobs with no time for your kids. I see so many young mothers in Bermuda in this position.
Agree with all the comments. As a Bermudian who has studied and is educated in Human Sexuality/Sexual Education, I have pushed for a mandated comprehensive sexual education programme in all of Bermuda’s schools for years. When we talk about sexual health education, it is important to understand that we are not encouraging young people to go out and have sex, but provide them with the tools necessary to make informed choices and decisions. Comprehensive sex education programmes focus on more than just the biology behind pregnancy and sex, but rather building positive self esteem, healthy relationships, decision-making, communication, STI prevent and pregnancy just to name a few.