There were over 22,000 induced abortions performed in Cuba in 2012. Concomitantly, the teenage pregnancy rate reached 16%. According to official data, 54.4 percent of those were surgical interventions.
The data was revealed during an event organized to mark World Population Day, organized in Havana by the United Nations Population Fund and officials from the Ministry of Public Health, the University of Havana and the National Center for Sex Education (CENSEX).
Grisel Rodriguez, from the Population Studies Center at the University of Havana, said that teenage pregnancy, which began to decline in the 80’s, has been on the rebound since 2006 and now stands at 57.3 per 1,000 teens.
Dr. Miguel Sosa, representing the Ministry of Public Health Maternal and Child Program referred to the high levels of abortions performed in the country in general and particularly in adolescents, which represents a high risk for their future, both in psychological and physical terms.
"We have to start working out this situation with our teens. We have to work hard to help them change their high risk behaviors. We have to talk about risks and do everything possible so that a woman under 16 years of age doesn’t get pregnant," said Sosa.
The event was reviewed by the newspaper Juventud Rebelde, though the article didn’t cite figures regarding pregnancies or abortions.
Natividad Guerrero, a CENSEX analyst, believes that pregnancy should be looked at from the male perspective, because there are many factors to consider.
"Men seek pleasure in relationships, relationships based on the sexual act. They begin very early, at about 10 years old. They leave their partners when they find out about the pregnancy because they are irresponsible. There’s pressure from their families and he leaves the decision making process for fear of not being able to assume the role of provider. It’s not viewed in the way it’s played out," she said.
The conference presented a film by Erick Coll, produced with support from the United Nations Population Fund in Cuba. The film told the stories of adolescent mothers--how pregnancy changed their lives, how their dreams were put on hold, as well as the opinions of teens about pregnancy.
"Several factors point to the need for continue work: dropping out of school, then motherhood, abortion rates, gender inequalities that determine the onset of sexual intercourse, [and] inconsistent use of methods of protection" said the note.
The United Nations appealed to the international community to pay more attention to teenage pregnancy. With statistics of about 16 million pregnancies a year, the UN called for more measures, including education and planning to address this "sensitive issue".
"I welcome the World Population Day this year to focus on teenage pregnancy, a sensitive issue that requires global attention," said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) revealed that in Latin America and the Caribbean, 25 percent of women become mothers before the age of 20.
The data was revealed during an event organized to mark World Population Day, organized in Havana by the United Nations Population Fund and officials from the Ministry of Public Health, the University of Havana and the National Center for Sex Education (CENSEX).
Grisel Rodriguez, from the Population Studies Center at the University of Havana, said that teenage pregnancy, which began to decline in the 80’s, has been on the rebound since 2006 and now stands at 57.3 per 1,000 teens.
Dr. Miguel Sosa, representing the Ministry of Public Health Maternal and Child Program referred to the high levels of abortions performed in the country in general and particularly in adolescents, which represents a high risk for their future, both in psychological and physical terms.
"We have to start working out this situation with our teens. We have to work hard to help them change their high risk behaviors. We have to talk about risks and do everything possible so that a woman under 16 years of age doesn’t get pregnant," said Sosa.
The event was reviewed by the newspaper Juventud Rebelde, though the article didn’t cite figures regarding pregnancies or abortions.
Natividad Guerrero, a CENSEX analyst, believes that pregnancy should be looked at from the male perspective, because there are many factors to consider.
"Men seek pleasure in relationships, relationships based on the sexual act. They begin very early, at about 10 years old. They leave their partners when they find out about the pregnancy because they are irresponsible. There’s pressure from their families and he leaves the decision making process for fear of not being able to assume the role of provider. It’s not viewed in the way it’s played out," she said.
The conference presented a film by Erick Coll, produced with support from the United Nations Population Fund in Cuba. The film told the stories of adolescent mothers--how pregnancy changed their lives, how their dreams were put on hold, as well as the opinions of teens about pregnancy.
"Several factors point to the need for continue work: dropping out of school, then motherhood, abortion rates, gender inequalities that determine the onset of sexual intercourse, [and] inconsistent use of methods of protection" said the note.
The United Nations appealed to the international community to pay more attention to teenage pregnancy. With statistics of about 16 million pregnancies a year, the UN called for more measures, including education and planning to address this "sensitive issue".
"I welcome the World Population Day this year to focus on teenage pregnancy, a sensitive issue that requires global attention," said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) revealed that in Latin America and the Caribbean, 25 percent of women become mothers before the age of 20.
