The increasing rates of teenage pregnancies in Fiji should not be blamed solely on the church but viewed as a shared responsibility, according to a prominent official from the Methodist Church. Reverend Jolame Lasawa, the General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, emphasized the importance of a collective approach to addressing this issue rather than attributing fault to any single group.
Reverend Lasawa’s remarks come in light of a noticeable rise in teenage pregnancies that tends to coincide with large events and school holidays. Opposition Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister for Health and Medical Services, Penioni Ravunawa, has raised concerns regarding this situation, especially during the current Term Two break for primary and secondary school students, which is marked by various events such as church conferences, youth camps, and festivals occurring throughout the country.
From 2018 to 2021, the Ministry of Health’s Health Information Unit documented 1,279 cases of teenage pregnancies. Among these cases, 1,057 involved iTaukei, 178 were Indo-Fijian, and 44 were from other ethnic backgrounds. Reverend Lasawa pointed out that teenage pregnancy is a widespread problem, affecting not just schools but also rural communities.
The statistics show that the Central Division had the highest number of cases at 636, followed by the Western Division with 350 cases, 60 in the Northern Division, and 11 in the Eastern Division. Reverend Lasawa stated, “Our education and youth departments are actively working on addressing issues related to teenage pregnancy. While the church is often criticized, it is a responsibility we all share.”
MP Ravunawa further mentioned that teenage pregnancies and childbirth are major contributors to dropout rates among high school girls, increased health and foster care expenses, and numerous developmental challenges for the children of teenage mothers. He added, “Teen pregnancies also increase the likelihood of the baby being born prematurely, having low birth weight, and facing a tragically higher risk of mortality.”