The significant increase in teenage pregnancies in Fiji is not solely the fault of the church, but should be viewed as a shared responsibility, according to a leading Methodist Church official. Reverend Jolame Lasawa, General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, stressed the importance of a collective response to this issue rather than blaming any single organization.
His remarks follow a noticeable rise in teenage pregnancies that have been reported around the times of large events and school vacations. Opposition Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister for Health and Medical Services, Penioni Ravunawa, raised concerns as the Central Division is currently on its Term Two break, during which many activities such as church conferences, youth camps, and festivals take place throughout the country.
The Ministry of Health indicated that from 2018 to 2021, their Health Information Unit documented 1,279 cases of teenage pregnancy. Of these cases, 1,057 involved iTaukei individuals, 178 were Indo-Fijians, and 44 belonged to other ethnic groups. Reverend Lasawa pointed out that teenage pregnancy is a widespread issue affecting not only schools but also the surrounding village communities.
Statistics show that the Central Division had the highest cases with 636, followed by the Western Division with 350, the Northern Division with 60, and the Eastern Division with 11. “Our education and youth departments are actively addressing teenage pregnancy concerns. While the church has faced criticism, it’s vital that this issue is recognized as a shared burden,” Reverend Lasawa said.
Ravunawa further noted that teenage pregnancies and childbirth contribute significantly to dropout rates among high school girls and lead to increased health and foster care costs, as well as a myriad of developmental challenges for children born to young mothers. He added that babies born to teenage mothers are at greater risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and even higher mortality rates.