Teenage Pregnancy Spike During School Break
“We have our education and youth departments working actively to address issues related to teenage pregnancy. While the church often faces criticism, the responsibility should be shared by everyone,” Reverend Lasawa stated.
Tuesday 27 August 2024 | 15:16
The alarming rise in teenage pregnancies in Fiji should not be solely attributed to the church, but recognised as a collective responsibility, a leading Methodist Church official said yesterday.
Reverend Jolame Lasawa, General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, emphasised that teenage pregnancy is an issue that requires a unified approach, rather than placing blame on any one entity.
His comments come in response to a surge in teenage pregnancies observed following large events and during school breaks.
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Opposition Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister for Health and Medical Services, Penioni Ravunawa, highlighted the concern amid the ongoing Term Two break for primary and secondary school students.
The holidays have started, with numerous events occurring across the country, including church conferences, youth camps, and festivals.
The Ministry of Health reported that its Health Information Unit recorded 1279 teenage pregnancy cases between 2018 and 2021.
Among these, 1057 were iTaukei, 178 were Indo-Fijians, and 44 were from other ethnic backgrounds.
Reverend Lasawa noted that teenage pregnancy is a pervasive issue, not only within schools but also in village communities.
The statistics further reveal that the Central Division recorded the highest number of cases at 636, followed by 350 cases in the Western Division, 60 in the Northern Division, and 11 in the Eastern Division.
“We have our education and youth departments working actively to address issues related to teenage pregnancy. While the church often faces criticism, the responsibility should be shared by everyone,” Reverend Lasawa stated.
Opposition MP Ravunawa added: “Teen pregnancy and childbirth significantly contribute to dropout rates among high school females, increased health and foster care costs, and a broad range of developmental challenges for children born to teen mothers.
“Teen pregnancies also place the baby at a higher risk of being born prematurely, with low birth weight, and tragically, a higher risk of death.”
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