The significant increase in teenage pregnancies in Fiji should be viewed as a collective issue rather than solely blamed on the church, according to a senior official from the Methodist Church. Reverend Jolame Lasawa, the General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, emphasized that tackling teenage pregnancy requires a unified effort from the entire community instead of holding any single organization accountable.
His statements were made in light of a noticeable rise in teenage pregnancies, particularly following major events and during school holidays. Opposition MP and Shadow Minister for Health and Medical Services, Penioni Ravunawa, expressed concern about this trend during the ongoing Term Two break for primary and secondary school students, which has been marked by various activities such as church conferences, youth camps, and festivals.
The Ministry of Health’s Health Information Unit reported a total of 1,279 cases of teenage pregnancy from 2018 to 2021. Of these, 1,057 were among iTaukei individuals, 178 were Indo-Fijians, and 44 were from other ethnic backgrounds. Reverend Lasawa pointed out that teenage pregnancy is a widespread problem not only among students but also in rural communities.
Statistics revealed that the Central Division had the highest incidence of teenage pregnancies, with 636 cases, followed by the Western Division with 350 cases, the Northern Division with 60, and the Eastern Division with 11. Reverend Lasawa made it clear that both the education and youth departments are actively addressing the issue of teenage pregnancy and stressed the importance of shared responsibility among all stakeholders.
Opposition MP Ravunawa further commented on the repercussions of teen pregnancies, noting their significant role in increasing dropout rates among female high school students, elevating health and foster care costs, and contributing to numerous developmental challenges for the children of teen mothers. He warned that children born to teenage mothers face a higher risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and, sadly, a greater risk of mortality.