The rising incidence of teenage pregnancies in Fiji should be viewed as a collective issue rather than being blamed solely on the church, according to a leading official from the Methodist Church. Reverend Jolame Lasawa, General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, stressed the need for a united approach to tackle the problem rather than pointing fingers at specific groups.
His remarks follow an increase in teenage pregnancies noted during large events and school breaks. Opposition Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister for Health and Medical Services, Penioni Ravunawa, raised concerns amid the ongoing Term Two break for primary and secondary school students, which has seen many events taking place across the nation, including church conferences, youth camps, and festivals.
The Ministry of Health reported a total of 1,279 cases of teenage pregnancies recorded between 2018 and 2021. Of these, 1,057 were from the iTaukei community, 178 were of Indo-Fijian descent, and 44 came from other ethnic backgrounds. Reverend Lasawa pointed out that the issue is widespread, affecting both school environments and village communities.
The statistics indicate that the Central Division had the highest number of cases at 636, followed by 350 in the Western Division, 60 in the Northern Division, and 11 in the Eastern Division. Reverend Lasawa remarked that the church actively participates in addressing teenage pregnancy issues through its education and youth departments. He emphasized that while the church often faces scrutiny, the responsibility must be shared among all sectors of society.
MP Ravunawa further noted that teenage pregnancy and childbirth are significant factors in increasing dropout rates among high school girls, heightening healthcare and foster care costs, and creating various developmental challenges for children born to teenage mothers. He also pointed out the heightened risks related to premature births, low birth weight, and increased mortality rates for babies born to young mothers.