More teenage pregnancies; sex education is lacking
The number of teenage pregnancies in Thailand continues to rise, while the birth rate, on the other hand, is falling. In order to successfully reduce the percentage, it is necessary that children receive sex education, based on facts and not on prejudices. The cooperation of parents, teachers and organizations is a prerequisite for this.
The current practice in Thailand is not very promising. Schools avoid sex education because they fear it will encourage children to have sex. Many schools also refuse to install a condom machine in or near the school and they decline offers from non-governmental organizations to provide additional education programs.
Of course it doesn't work out that way. Countries that have managed to reduce teenage pregnancy rates are urging parents and teachers to educate children at a relatively early age.
But in many countries, sexuality is a sensitive subject because politics, culture and ethics overlap on this point, Caspar Peek, UNFPA representative for Thailand, said yesterday at the 1st National Conference on Healthy Sexuality: Teenage Pregnancy.
Krissada Raungarreerat, director of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), called on parents, teachers and organizations to jointly convey a message of healthy sexuality to bring back the high rate of teenhood.
From a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report Motherhood in Childhood, based on figures from the Thai Department of Health, shows that the number of teenage pregnancies increased from 3 percent (of the total number of births) in 2000 to 5 percent in 2012. In that year, the number of births was 801.737; 129.451 mothers were 15 to 19 years old. 15.440 teenagers were pregnant more often and 880 even three times. Furthermore, 3.725 girls under the age of 15 became pregnant.
The high rate of teenage pregnancy not only creates social and economic problems, Krissada argued, but also other serious problems such as HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and sexual violence.
ThaiHealth Vice Chairman Vichai Chokevivat called on government departments to cooperate in solving the problem. 'Don't let teenagers solve the problems themselves. The services must educate children on how to deal with these problems.'
He cited the example of the US that has managed to reduce teenage pregnancies by promoting birth control drugs and motivating children to avoid unsafe sex. And England set up the Pregnancy Advisory Service in 1967, which manages to prevent unwanted pregnancies by encouraging and providing the use of safe and affordable resources.
(Source: Bangkok Post, Sept. 9, 2014)
The growth of teenage pregnancies in Thailand can then only decrease:
– If the boys and men can be forced to do their part in the upbringing of the child or at least can make a financial contribution to it;
– When the girls start to give a damn about the usual conventions and just keep their legs together if the man or boy doesn't want to use a condom and also go on the pill.
For both cases I don't see any light on the horizon, unfortunately.
And it is still the case that the pregnant girl is reviled and humiliated, including by her family, and the father can continue with his worthless life.
Incidentally, it is true that the girls are also to blame.
When you see and hear how they approach the boy/man like a deity and the failed deity in turn treats the girl, I sometimes wonder if the mind of those girls is perhaps on the bedside table when they get up in the morning abandoned.
No, it may take a very long time before teenage pregnancies in Thailand will decrease.
I have 2 daughters, Dutch. Information about condoms was given at their schools. Why: You don't get AIDS with condoms. Don't be told you won't have babies either. The problem, you have a kind of pharmacist or "doctor" everywhere, but the children are afraid to ask for the pill, because imagine someone from the neighbors, female or whoever sees you. Big trouble then! My daughters were asked if they could not buy the pill for them.
The guys know very well about condoms.
Only with a sip they are no longer up to date.
Moreover, most Thais are not so concerned with the problems that may come tomorrow.
As long as today is fun.
My girl next door was raped at the age of thirteen by ten young men, her so-called friends.
When I asked if her father is aware of this, they told me, yes, but they do not report this to the police to avoid losing face.
They all left the church before singing so nothing could happen she told me, yes what do you have to tell such people they don't believe you anyway
Very bad here in Isaan with the youth with no responsibility at all and parents who have nothing but nothing to say about their children.
mvg
ronny
Dear Ronnie.
Believe me I recognize your story , it does not only apply to the Isaan .
Jan Beute.