The significant increase in teenage pregnancies in Fiji should not be solely blamed on the church, but rather seen as a shared responsibility, according to a leading official from the Methodist Church.
Reverend Jolame Lasawa, the General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, stressed that tackling teenage pregnancy demands a collaborative effort and cannot be placed on any single group. His remarks were made in light of recent trends showing a rise in teenage pregnancies linked to large gatherings and school holidays.
Opposition Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister for Health and Medical Services, Penioni Ravunawa, raised concerns about the issue during the current break for primary and secondary school students, which has seen numerous events taking place, including church conferences, youth camps, and festivals.
The Ministry of Health’s Health Information Unit disclosed that there were 1,279 recorded cases of teenage pregnancies between 2018 and 2021. Of these, 1,057 involved iTaukei individuals, 178 were Indo-Fijians, and 44 belonged to other ethnic groups. Reverend Lasawa pointed out that the problem extends beyond schools and impacts village communities as well.
Statistics indicated that the Central Division had the highest cases at 636, followed by the Western Division with 350, the Northern Division with 60, and the Eastern Division with 11. Reverend Lasawa mentioned that the church is actively engaging its education and youth departments to tackle the issues surrounding teenage pregnancy, urging that the responsibility be distributed among all stakeholders.
Moreover, MP Ravunawa highlighted the adverse effects of teenage pregnancy, including increased dropout rates among female high school students, soaring health and foster care expenses, and various developmental challenges for children born to teenage mothers. He warned that teenage pregnancies also elevate the risks of premature births, low birth weight, and an increased likelihood of infant mortality.