In commemoration of the “Day for the Prevention of Unintentional Pregnancy in Adolescents”, the aim is to make this social problem visible from public health institutions.
Teenage pregnancy impacts not only this group but also their families and environment. In 2021, 13,166 births to adolescent mothers, between 10 and 19 years old, were registered. Of these births, 472 corresponded to girls between the ages of 10 and 14 and 12,694 births to adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19.
They affirm that despite the efforts made jointly between the public and private sectors, the challenge of reducing the gap remains very important.
The head of the Department of Comprehensive Health for Adolescents (DIRSINA), Dr. Carolina Ruiz, explained that the Ministry of Health has 106 spaces for Comprehensive Health Care for Adolescents nationwide.
“We want to reach female and male adolescents just before unintended pregnancies, offering information and guidance, always emphasizing the delay of the onset of sexual relations and talking about their life project,” he said.
With the National Adolescent Health Plan 2016-2021, the pregnancy rate among girls and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 was reduced by 2% in the last five years.
“Today we talk about unintended pregnancy to refer to unplanned pregnancies and to mean that unintentionality can also affect what parenting is, that is, when talking about positive and respectful parenting of children. We want to take advantage of this date to be able to sensitize all health professionals in the first instance and also the population regarding this problem because it is very frequent. Today, comprehensive care is aimed at including not only the approach to pregnant women, but also their family and social environment”, said Lic. Luz Torres, a professional expert in the area of adolescence.
Ñangareko spaces
The Juan Rassmuss Echecopar Foundation (FJRE) has been working since 2018 to support the efforts of the Ministry of Health. One of its focuses of work is the prevention of unintentional teenage pregnancy.
For this, the FJRE has created and supports the operation of the Ñangareko Adolescent Spaces. Currently there are already 6 Ñangareko Spaces that are strengthened in public hospitals.
Ñangareko Hospital Barrio Obrero
Ñangareko Maternal and Child San Pablo
Ñangareko Fernando de la Mora Hospital
Adolescent Home Calle´i San Lorenzo
Ñangareko Hospital of Luque (opened in August)
Ñangareko Hospital de Clínicas (the only one outside the Ministry network)
The spaces offer free comprehensive care, with gynecology, obstetrics, pediatrics, prenatal care, nutrition, counseling, dentistry, among others.
The departments with the highest incidence of adolescent pregnancy are Alto Paraná, Cordillera and Caaguazú, for which they plan to expand the network of Ñangareko Spaces in districts and cities of these departments.
