Figures show that the number of teenage pregnancies in Aruba has risen significantly in recent years. Pregnancy and motherhood at a young age often has profound social, psychological and financial consequences for mother and child. From the year 2000 the White Yellow Cross noticed an increase in teenage mothers. We want to make youth aware of teenage pregnancies, sexual responsibility, realistic facts and consequences.
Emotion: Teenage mothers have little time for themselves and at young age they are responsible for themselves and the baby. Social: Contacts with peers are often less. Interests and the lives of teenage mothers differ from their peers. School career: The emotional and financial consequences for teenage mothers, often makes that teenage mothers prematurely quit school to go to earn money for example. Financial: The maintenance of a baby costs a great deal of money and teenage mothers often can only fall back on assistance from the government. And this is rarely enough. Physical: Teenage mothers run a greater risk of complications because their bodies are not quite ready for the change of a pregnancy.
When a pregnant girl appears to be pregnant, some of them use a new method of abortion, namely with a medicinal drug called Cytotec. This is a drug for people with gut complaints. Another effect is that it can arouse an abortion. Young girls who become pregnant are taking this medicine in large doses, resulting in severe abdominal pain, bleeding and admitted to hospital. However, for many girls there is no abortion and the baby is born with several abnormalities. In addition, there are also other resources such as fabric softener and pine-oil used. Many think that these work for abortion, but that's not true.
In total there were 154 teenage mothers in 2006. Of these, 16.8% already have 1 or 2 children. These were the girls between the ages of 16 and 19. In 2007 there are 151, of which 13.9% have 2 or 3 children. Furthermore, in 2006 18.2% and 2007 15.8% of the total number of teenage mothers came from outside Aruba. Click here for an overview of the figures.
The care and responsibility for a child is very serious and frightening if you're still so young. That is why the White Yellow Cross is there to help and support to the different areas around the baby. Both before, and after childbirth. We provide information and help you in the care of the baby. Together with CEMBRAH we can provide a lot of information about the various aspects. Think of financial and social consequences, but also your physical training and possible consequences.