More than a third of pregnancies registered in the southwest involve girls under 17, according to Listin Diario. Three provinces in the region, Azua, San Juan de la Maguana and Elias Pina have the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in the country. Of every 100 pregnancies reported in Region VI, 37 are under 17 years of age. The Association for the Promotion of Life (Coovida) said that as a result most girls drop out of school, whether public or private.
Coovida spokesman Dario Garcia said that the numbers released for the three provinces, already the highest in the country are expected to increase even more. He noted that among the middle classes, pregnancies are often terminated with an abortion and in the lower classes, pregnancies often cause crises that result in family violence, blaming the mother. He called on schools to take part in educational programs to reduce the incidence of teen pregnancies.
www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2012/11/13/254894/Preocupa-elevado-indice-de-embarazos-en-adolescentes