Teen pregnancy problem getting more serious

[Thaivisa News]

Bangkok:- At the age they should have been studying for a bright future, so many girls get pregnant in Thailand. The problem, according to latest statistics, is getting more serious.

The Public Health Ministry has revealed that of girls aged between 15 and 19 years old, 5.38 per cent gave birth to their babies in 2012.

The latest figure is so alarming that Deputy Public Health Minister Somsak Chunharas admits teenage pregnancies is now a major problem in the Thai society.

“We will need to seriously tackle the problem,” Somsak told Matichon on Wednesday.

His ministry has now made it a mission to curb the percentage of pregnant girls in the 15 to 19 –year age range.

“It should be no more than five per cent in the next two years,” Somsak said.

According to him, the Public Health Ministry has already been implementing three key strategies in a bid to prevent teenage pregnancies.

The first strategy focuses on sex education to ensure that teenagers understand the risks of premature sex and unsafe sex.

The second strategy is to have “teenagers’ clinics” up and running at state hospitals so that the youth have convenient access to advice, condoms and even intrauterine devices.

“About 51 per cent of state hospitals under the ministry’s supervision have already operated such clinics. We will make sure the rest have the teenagers’ clinic available before the end of 2017,” Somsak said.

The third strategy is to engage local administrative bodies, communities and families in efforts to prevent girls from getting pregnant.

At a too young age, teenagers may not be really be ready to start a family at all and their pregnancies may lead to many social problems later on.

[webfact]

note

[khwaibah]

When you have a culture that allows the selling of products like the photo below in 7-11 Thailand its not surprising.

Edited May 14, 2015 by khwaibah

[Always18]

Well, I am surprised!............who would have thought that there would be an alarming rate of teen pregnancy in a culture where any open discussion about sex is non-existent?

[micmichd]

They should supply free access to birth control devices (condoms or pills) for teens then.

[h90]

When you have a culture that allows the selling of products like the photo below in 7-11 Thailand its not surprising.

I think there aren't many country that would ban an ice tea for such a name

[Thaddeus]

Well, I am surprised!............who would have thought that there would be an alarming rate of teen pregnancy in a culture where any open discussion about sex is non-existent?

Years ago a woman from the education ministry stated that ''Thai people do not have sex until they are married''

[micmichd]

Wishful thinking, maybe not even desirable.

Who would buy a pig in a poke?

[apetley]

Only 5.38%? Here in the village it seems almost every girl has a kid by the time she is 20.

[micmichd]

Maybe some girls take care of their friends' and neighbours' babies sometimes.

[Rhys]

Strategy 4.... inform the sugar daddies to keep it in.. and let out.. 555555

[maprao]

Restocking the Pattaya bars;)

[jerojero]

Reduce to 5.0% from 5.38% in 24 months. Very ambitious goal. Not!

[micmichd]

Restocking the Pattaya bars;)

for pedophiles?

[micmichd]

Restocking the Pattaya bars;)

for pedophiles, or as reservations for Farangs when they get older?

[maprao]

Restocking the Pattaya bars;)

for pedophiles?

Wow hit a nerve there with some haha

18 & 19 fair game

After all you pay for them to leave not stay lol

Edited May 15, 2015 by maprao

[Banzai99]

Catching up with the USA then.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_pregnancy_in_the_United_States

[givenall]

Only 5.38%? Here in the village it seems almost every girl has a kid by the time she is 20.

By now everyone should know that data from Thai government is always better that what real situations are

[micmichd]

Only 5.38%? Here in the village it seems almost every girl has a kid by the time she is 20.

By now everyone should know that data from Thai government is always better that what real situations are

Then what is this all about?

Where are the Farangs that complain that there are not enough children in Thailand?

[Thaddeus]

Only 5.38%? Here in the village it seems almost every girl has a kid by the time she is 20.

By now everyone should know that data from Thai government is always better that what real situations are

Then what is this all about?

Where are the Farangs that complain that there are not enough children in Thailand?

In your imagination I think, because I don't know any.

[micmichd]

Only 5.38%? Here in the village it seems almost every girl has a kid by the time she is 20.

By now everyone should know that data from Thai government is always better that what real situations are

Then what is this all about?

Where are the Farangs that complain that there are not enough children in Thailand?

In your imagination I think, because I don't know any.

Look for 'shortage of labour force' on TVF. Edited May 16, 2015 by micmichd

[h90]

Getting a baby with 18, 19 sounds young to me but not extreme. Friend of mine got a baby with 16 in Europe. No problem when the family helps together.

[Thaddeus]

Where are the Farangs that complain that there are not enough children in Thailand?

In your imagination I think, because I don't know any.

Look for 'shortage of labour force' on TVF.

There is a lack of people willing and or able to work under the prevailing conditions of the jobs on offer.

How you managed to link that to the problem of teenage pregnancy I have no idea.

[Smithson]

Interesting that birth control isn't mentioned once in the article.

[h90]

Interesting that birth control isn't mentioned once in the article.

"The first strategy focuses on sex education to ensure that teenagers understand the risks of premature sex and unsafe sex.

The second strategy is to have “teenagers’ clinics” up and running at state hospitals so that the youth have convenient access to advice, condoms and even intrauterine devices. "

that is control of not getting pregnant.....condoms also for not getting HIV which is even more important.

[Lupatria]

I swear this time it wasn't me. Blame it on Bacardi Breezer.

[micmichd]

Souvenirs here, souvenirs there, souvenirs everywhere

[kickstart]

We have 16 year old step granddaughter living with us ,if she said I want some advice on contraception, I would be glad ,but grandma my misses would have kittens ,the thought of her going with someone, and not married ,she would be soon marched up the aisle.

I think a lot of teenage girls would go for some form of contraceptive advice, but they would have to get around mum, grandma, etc first.

Like most things in Thailand changes happen slowly,this one is going to be a slow one.

Not so long ago the uk had the highest rate in Europe for teenage pregnacy,they are a lot better now,it was down to education,Thailand please take note.

[FloridaExport]

Catching up with the USA then.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_pregnancy_in_the_United_States

You should probably reread the article you linked and the OP. According to the OP, the percentage of girls giving birth in Thailand is 5.38%.

According to the numbers in the wikipedia page you linked, 59% of pregnancies in the USA end in the birth of the child. Even though the pregnancy rate is 5.7%, the actual birth rate for girls in that age group is 3.4%. One would surmise that the Thai birth rate is nowhere near 100% either, but they don't mention the pregnancy rate.

Edited May 18, 2015 by FloridaExport

[papa al]

Restocking the Pattaya bars;)

for pedophiles?

Pedophilia is sexual attraction to pre-pubescent individuals.

An 18-year-old will be maybe 5 years beyond that.