Teen Pregnancy
On The Increase
In Costa Rica
In 2009 there
were 154
pregnant
teenagers than
that of 2008,
for a total of
1.434 pregnant
young girls
attending public
school, says a
report by the
Ministerio de
Educación
Pública (MEP).
According to
Rocío Solís,
directora de la
Oficina de la
Niñez y
Adolescencia del
Ministerio de
Educación
Pública, the
young girls are
given a special
curriculum,
¢50.000 colones
a month in
assistance and
time to breast
feed their
babies, as an
incentive to
stay in school.
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Solís
said of
most
importance
to the
MEP is
that the
young
girls
continue
in
school
and not
abandon
their
studies
due to
the
pregnancy.
The
director
added
that
when the
young
girl is
ready to
give
birth,
school
activities
are
coordinated
so that
lessons
and
tests
can be
done at
home and
choose
hours
that fit
her
schedule.
Solís
said
that the
only
restriction
is that
they
cannot
take the
babies
to
school
with
them,
which
would be
a
distraction
for the
other
students
and not
good for
the
infant.
The
director
indirectly
blames
the
sexualizing
in
music,
some
television
programs
and the
ease of
use of
technology,
like
video
cameras,
for the
increase
in
pregnancies
among
adolescents. |
A study by the
Universidad
Nacional reveals
that parties,
drugs and
alcohol has an
82% influence
rate on the
young deciding
to have sex,
while curiosity
69% and peer
pressure 65%.
A study
conducted in the
US in 2006 found
that adolescents
who were more
exposed to
sexuality in the
media were also
more likely to
engage in sexual
activity
themselves.
The Teen Media
study looked at
four kinds of
media: TV,
movies,
magazines and
music.
Data supporting
teenage
pregnancy as a
social issue in
developed
countries
include lower
educational
levels, higher
rates of
poverty, and
other poorer
"life outcomes"
in children of
teenage mothers.
Teenage
pregnancy in
developed
countries is
usually outside
of marriage, and
carries a social
stigma in many
communities and
cultures.
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