Over 9,000 teenagers gave birth in 2004 in Puerto Rico

[Janice]

SAN JUAN (EFE) – Health Department Secretary Rosa Pérez Perdomo revealed on Friday that more than 9,000 teenagers between the ages of 10 and 19 gave birth in 2004.

According to Health Department statistics, 9,299 of the 51,239 babies born in 2004 were born to teenage mothers.

More than 180 were born to mothers under 15 and more than 3,600 babies were born to females between the ages of 15 and 17, Pérez Perdomo said during public hearings before the House Youths Affairs Committee.

The agency chief also said teenage expectant mothers generally begin prenatal care at a later stage in their pregnancy, mainly because they don’t immediately tell their parents and have difficulty looking for help on their own.

Wow, that is horrible. We have 4 million people on the island. I guess the sex education in schools is not working. Do you suppose the states have the same big numbers?

[alicia-w]

actually it sounds like it might be working too well. they certainly seem to know what they're doing awfully early. i wonder what the teenage pregnancy numbers are in the US?

here is one site's report:

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/state_pr ... trends.pdf

[feederband]

How many 10 year olds gave birth?

[O Town]

How many 10 year olds gave birth?

Most of the stats are from ages 15-19. Most girls are unable to get pregnant at 10. Most by 13 though. Still way to young having relations with a boy. I would kill my girls if they came home pregnant anytime before they were in a serious relationship, but more so if they were under the age of 17.

[tk]

How many 10 year olds gave birth?

Ha ha! I was thinking the same thing.

[Cookiely]

How many 10 year olds gave birth?

I helped an eleven year old through labor pains. That was the youngest pregnant child I had seen give birth. Hispanic and girls born in warm climates become fertile at an earlier age than girls of colder climates. I was 8 years old when I became a "woman" More like a curse if you ask me, this was pre ibuprophen. Anybody remember going to the pharmacy for Paragoric? No prescription needed. Nasty stuff.

[wxmann_91]

I just saw this show on abc and the stats were scary in that 40% of girls by age 15 (I think?) already had some form of oral sex. Another thing is that 70% of teenagers think sex before marriage is okay. (I learned that from church)

[Yarrah]

Another thing is that 70% of teenagers think sex before marriage is okay.

Why is that a problem?

[GalvestonDuck]

Another thing is that 70% of teenagers think sex before marriage is okay.

Why is that a problem?

Basic facts of life -- sex can lead to pregnancy. Since many of those teenagers are having sex for love and/or pleasure, they may not be doing it with the person with whom they want to spend the rest of their lives. So, the consequences of having a baby outside of marriage -- that's the problem.

[alicia-w]

You dont have to be a teenager to have a pregnancy outside of marriage. Two of mine were marriage-free children. And I have no regrets. Of course, I didnt some of the limitations that some women have, no fiscal means of support, no insurance, yada yada yada.... i had all of that. it wasnt any easier having a husband around for those two. of course i married again later and he gladly contributed to parental care duties.

[GalvestonDuck]

Of course not, but as you get older, you understand the consequences of your actions better. IMO, whether pregnancy is the issue or not, teens should be abstaining from sex. But, like I said, that's just my opinion.

It is possible....

[Janice]

It is really hard raising teenagers with all their peer pressure. They do not want to be considered square or out of the crowd. And if they have a boyfriend, they will believe anything he says, "yes, I love you". But, I think a lot of us did too.