The United Nations Development Program in the Dominican Republic released the United Nations Human Development Report 2017 with a focus on the epidemic of teenage pregnancies in the country. In the DR, 22.3% of Dominican females ages 12-19 years had been pregnant. The adolescent fertility rate is an alarmingly 34% higher than the average in Latin America and Caribbean countries that stands at 16.6%.
The report reveals that the country’s high fertility rate for teenagers 15 to 19 years (100.6 HNV x 1,000 women) in the Dominican Republic, a high development nation, is similar to the average rate (101.6) in countries that are considered to be facing significant social development challenges and are rated as low development nations. In contrast, countries considered having high social advancement scored an average of 38.9 (2016).
The situation has worsened over the years. The study revealed that National Statistics Office data showed that in 2013, 43.6% of teenagers reported to have had their first sexual relationship. In contrast in 1986, 24.2% of teenagers reported to have had their first sexual relationship.
The UNDP highlights that despite the country achieving significant progress in terms of economic growth and improvements in many of its social indicators, the high teenage pregnancy rate has remained unacceptably high for the past three decades. It is apparent that public social policies have not been successful. The report seeks to provide a powerful tool for those individuals and institutions who can make address this issue and adopt different policies.
The report says that the phenomenon is greater in southern provinces and those in central Cibao region and among the most poor.
The report says that the causes of teenage pregnancy are multiple, but its effects – social, economic, political – are made visible very specifically in the quality of life of young women, their families, communities and their possibilities and opportunities to achieve well-being and dignified lives.
Among the main causes for teenage pregnancy mentioned are alcohol and drug consumption, lack of maturity, the generalized belief that it is best to have children at a young age, and not using birth control. On a positive side, the Dominican government has begun a pilot program to make available low cost condoms and birth control injections at the government low cost pharmacies (Promese-Cal). Condoms are now selling for RD$2 the package of three.
The report “El embarazo en adolescentes: Un desafío multidimensional para generar oportunidades en el ciclo de vida” is only yet available in Spanish. It can be read and downloaded at:
UNDP Human Development Report 2017
11 December 2017
