Thailand’s Public Health Enacts Measures to Reduce Teen Pregnancy

 

BANGKOK – The Ministry of Public Health is working with other ministries to reduce teen pregnancy, following statistics that Thais under the age of 20 had given birth to around 94,000 children last year.

Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn inaugurated a workshop to discuss ways to prevent teen pregnancy this year and to give awards to 50 local agencies.

The Department of Health has supported the role of local government organizations in preventing teen pregnancy, by gathering local leaders and providing them with comprehensive information on teens and building networks.

Currently, up to 1,480 local organizations have taken part in the initiative.

According to a 2016 survey, Thais under the age of 20 had given birth to around 94,000 children, Dr Piyasakol the country has made reducing teen pregnancy a national agenda.

The Ministry of Public Health will now work with the Ministries of Education, Labor, the Interior, and Social Development and Human Security to mobilize measures according to the 2016 Prevention and Solution of the Adolescent Pregnancy Problem Act.

The minister revealed that the United Nations made reducing pregnancy rates among teens ages 10-14 and 15-19 a key performance indicator for its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

By Benjamin Rujopakarn