An article published in el Caribe-Domingo 24-10-2004 titled "Piden plan para reducir embarazos de menores" reveals a persistent social problem that continues to plague young adolescent Dominicans-teenage pregnancy. According to statistics adolescent pregnancy is on the rise. Pregnancy prevention campaigns have proven to be ineffective. There has been an increase in pregnancy in the age group of 15-19 yrs according to La Encuesta Demogr?fica y de Salud 2002 (Endesa). Out of every 1000 pregnancies, 116 are adolescents.
According to the article:
"Instituciones como Profamilia y el Departamento Materno Infantil de Salud P?blica ponen su granito de arena para concienciar a los j?venes sobre los riesgos de la maternidad adolescente, pero sus esfuerzos resultan insuficientes".
These institutions are focusing their energies towards educating the youth but with a special focus geared towards adolescent females who find themselves in this unpredictable situation due to lack of planning and education among other contributing factors.
Since education seems to be the topic of week I decided to post this because I think the DR's education problem is two fold (I mentioned this in another debate). There is a problem with the quality of education (the teaching methodology) and the curriculum (what is being taught). A few questions I ask myself regarding this social problem are:
* Would class room education help to reduce the growing numbers?
* Education does play a role in this social crisis. Is this a socioeconomic problem?
* How effective are institutions like: Salud P?blica, Profamilia etc.?
Needless to say adolescent pregnancy greatly affects the future of young Dominicans and instigates and perpetuates many other social problems that usually follow. Continuing their education and pursuing future endeavors becomes difficult. I refuse to succumb to belief that this is "a cultural norm" but rather an alarming social problem that needs attention. Your opinion and insight would be greatly appreciated.
-Lesley D
Pib: If you feel this topic is inappropriate by all means: b?rralo. As well, please note this article was in the hard copy version of el Caribe (Octubre 24, 2004) that I have at hand, it was not posted in the on-line version.
Thanks.
According to the article:
"Instituciones como Profamilia y el Departamento Materno Infantil de Salud P?blica ponen su granito de arena para concienciar a los j?venes sobre los riesgos de la maternidad adolescente, pero sus esfuerzos resultan insuficientes".
These institutions are focusing their energies towards educating the youth but with a special focus geared towards adolescent females who find themselves in this unpredictable situation due to lack of planning and education among other contributing factors.
Since education seems to be the topic of week I decided to post this because I think the DR's education problem is two fold (I mentioned this in another debate). There is a problem with the quality of education (the teaching methodology) and the curriculum (what is being taught). A few questions I ask myself regarding this social problem are:
* Would class room education help to reduce the growing numbers?
* Education does play a role in this social crisis. Is this a socioeconomic problem?
* How effective are institutions like: Salud P?blica, Profamilia etc.?
Needless to say adolescent pregnancy greatly affects the future of young Dominicans and instigates and perpetuates many other social problems that usually follow. Continuing their education and pursuing future endeavors becomes difficult. I refuse to succumb to belief that this is "a cultural norm" but rather an alarming social problem that needs attention. Your opinion and insight would be greatly appreciated.
-Lesley D
Pib: If you feel this topic is inappropriate by all means: b?rralo. As well, please note this article was in the hard copy version of el Caribe (Octubre 24, 2004) that I have at hand, it was not posted in the on-line version.
Thanks.