Between 2016 and 2019, approximately 1,000 babies were born each year to adolescent mothers aged 15 to 19, according to a recent policy paper from the Bureau of Statistics titled “Putting Data and Evidence into Action: An Intersectional Profile of Adolescent Pregnancy and Motherhood in Fiji.” The youngest mother recorded was as young as 13.
The report indicates a significant rise in the adolescent fertility rate during this timeframe, increasing from 30 to 38 births per 1,000 among iTaukei mothers, and from 19 to 24 births per 1,000 among non-iTaukei mothers. It noted that there were more babies born to iTaukei adolescent mothers, reflecting the larger iTaukei population in Fiji.
The findings show that the majority of iTaukei adolescent mothers were single or unmarried, with over 3,350 children born to these mothers aged 14 to 19, compared to 952 babies born to non-iTaukei mothers in the same age bracket. The report further pointed out that among iTaukei mothers, 73 percent were single, 26 percent were married, and 1 percent divorced, while approximately 50 percent of non-iTaukei mothers were married, 38 percent were single, and 4 percent were divorced.
Additionally, the 2021 Fiji Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) reported a stark contrast in adolescent fertility rates between wealth quintiles, with 52 births per 1,000 in the poorest group compared to just 5 per 1,000 in the wealthiest. The survey also showed that adolescent fertility was 35 percent higher in rural areas compared to urban settings.
From a sample of 791 adolescent girls surveyed, 85 percent were aware of modern contraception methods. However, among those aged 15 to 19 who reported being sexually active, only 13.5 percent could access modern contraception when they needed it.
The report emphasized the necessity of offering non-judgmental and confidential sexual and reproductive health services, along with training focused on gender sensitization and gender-based violence.