Underage pregnancies require community support, says Thai academic

[snoop1130]

 

Focusing on the issue of underage pregnancies, Sumate Noklang, a PhD Development Education Programme lecturer at the Graduate School of Srinakharinwirot University, insists that the government must prioritise the quality of life for children yet to be born. This comes as part of national initiatives aimed at tackling the country’s decreasing fertility rates.

 

During 2021-2022, Sumate led a comprehensive research study involving 400 individuals hailing from a rural community in a Central Plains province. This community recorded the highest rate of underage teenage mothers in the nation.

 

The objective of the study was to establish a mechanism and community empowerment model dedicated to supporting vulnerable groups, thereby ensuring a good quality of life for the future population.

 

The research revealed that the issue of underage pregnancies can be effectively addressed by fostering self-esteem, awareness, and community support. The community plays a significant role in empowering the teen girls’ self-esteem, stated Sumate, who collaborated with Peeradet Prakongpan, another lecturer at the Graduate School of Srinakharinwirot University, for this study.

 

To bring about change, guidebooks outlining how community members should appropriately interact with young mothers were distributed. These included families, relatives, and teachers. The guidebooks were provided with support from local health volunteers.

 

By Mitch Connor

Caption: PHOTO: via Down to earth

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-11

 

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[Crossy]

They also require proper sex education and provision of free contraception!

 

No matter how you try you won't stop teens "experimenting", at least teach them and give them the means to prevent any accidents!

 

 

[reefsurfah]

Start with giving a better life, then the culture.  

[neeray]

Give each underage teen a bottle of Aspirins (or some other useless pill). Instruct the young girl that when things start to get hot and heavy, place one Aspirin between her knees and hold it there until the urge for both has passed. If instructions followed, this method is a real winner.

[2baht]

Not a mention of the fathers???? Seems to be a national sport...impregnate then run! 

[Joe Farang]

Meaningless Waffle words.

"Community Support"

 

Yeah right.

Edited January 11 by Joe Farang
sic

[jacko45k]

9 hours ago, reefsurfah said:

Start with giving a better life, then the culture.  

Better early education too. 

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, Crossy said:

They also require proper sex education and provision of free contraception!

 

No matter how you try you won't stop teens "experimenting", at least teach them and give them the means to prevent any accidents!

 

 

And employment later so they can educate them

[sniggie]

Hang on.  Wasn't it only last week that the powers that be were complaining about the falling birth rate?  Clearly the kids are heeding the call!

[Old Croc]

It's probably just me, but I often interpret headlines here in a different way than they were intended,

[mikebell]

4 hours ago, 2baht said:

Not a mention of the fathers???? Seems to be a national sport...impregnate then run! 

Totally agree.  If Thai fathers were made to pay maintenance for their children it would slow the desperation of young mothers rushing to work in the big city bars.

[Ben Zioner]

For a start the family of the teenage fathers should be held fully accountable of their sons actions. Both contraception and abortion must be seen as normal steps to take. Counselling, both pre and post termination, must be available for the young lady. Trying to hamper the efforts of the mother to bring her life back to normal must be seen as criminal. Throw religions out of the equation. I could go on... We have had it mostly covered in the west, unfortunately we have now both retrograde, immigrant communities and trumpist arses trying to do away with it.