Within the framework of World Children’s Rights Day, the State Health Services Administration (ASSE) held the First National Meeting of Health Teams. On the occasion, it was indicated that Uruguay reduces the number of adolescent pregnancies year after year. In 2015 the public provider served 137 and in 2022 62 were registered. 85% of the total corresponds to ASSE users and, mostly, from the interior of the country.
The president of ASSE, Leonardo Cipriani; the Court Prosecutor and Attorney General of the Nation, Juan Gómez; the director of Human Rights and International Relations and Cooperation of the Central Board of Directors of the National Administration of Public Education, Gloria Canclini, and the director of the Adolescent Program of the Institute for Children and Adolescents of Uruguay, Alicia Trillo.
During the meeting, it was highlighted that pregnancy in girls and adolescents under 15 years of age is linked to situations of high violation of rights, including violence and sexual abuse, which have serious consequences for the comprehensive development of those affected, in the short term. medium and long term, such as educational continuity, job placement and difficulties in achieving economic autonomy.
In addition, the newborn sons of these girl-mothers face vital risks: a 50% higher probability of death during pregnancy and in the first weeks of life.
Between May 2021 and October 2022, there were 81 ASSE users under the age of 15 who were pregnant. 80% had previous consultations to control their health, 24% had a pathological history of mental health and 5%, of problematic consumption.
Regarding educational insertion, 78% attend a center. In addition, 50% suffered situations of violence and 13% were victims of sexual violence prior to pregnancy.
Cipriani pointed out that ASSE addresses the issue of pregnancy in girls and adolescents and that since 2016 a project has been developed with a specific roadmap.
Currently, the concepts worked on are being executed in the territory, jointly, by the ASSE Childhood and Adolescence Directorate, the Sexual and Reproductive Health Directorate and the gender-based violence teams, to monitor all cases. 85% are ASSE users, and the highest percentage of adolescent pregnancies occurs in the interior of the country.
The hierarch recognized that the figures are auspicious, since the drop is consolidated year after year; However, he considered, the work must continue so that there are no more girls in this situation.
