Between 2016 and 2019, approximately 1,000 babies were born annually to mothers aged 15 to 19, according to a recent policy paper from the Bureau of Statistics titled “Putting Data and Evidence into Action: An Intersectional Profile of Adolescent Pregnancy and Motherhood in Fiji.” The report noted that the youngest recorded mother was just 13 years old.
During this period, the adolescent fertility rate saw a significant increase, with rates climbing from 30 to 38 births per 1,000 among iTaukei mothers and from 19 to 24 births per 1,000 among non-iTaukei mothers. The report indicated that while there were more iTaukei babies born to adolescent mothers, this is largely attributed to the iTaukei community making up a greater share of Fiji’s overall population. It also pointed out that a majority of adolescent iTaukei mothers were single or unmarried.
Over the four years analyzed, more than 3,350 children were born to iTaukei mothers aged 14 to 19, in contrast with 952 babies born to non-iTaukei mothers in the 15 to 19 age group. The report further highlighted that 73 percent of iTaukei mothers were single, 26 percent were married, and 1 percent were divorced. In comparison, about 50 percent of non-iTaukei mothers were married, while 38 percent were single and 4 percent were divorced.
The 2021 Fiji Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey revealed that from 2019 to 2021, the adolescent fertility rate was 52 per 1,000 in the poorest wealth quintile, while it dropped to just 5 per 1,000 in the wealthiest category. Additionally, the survey found that adolescent fertility was 35 percent higher in rural areas compared to urban settings.
Among the adolescent girls surveyed, 85 percent reported awareness of modern contraception methods. However, only 33 girls aged 15 to 19, both married and unmarried, indicated they were sexually active and sought family planning assistance, and only 13.5 percent were able to access modern contraception when they needed it.
The report emphasized the need for non-judgmental and confidential sexual and reproductive health services, along with gender sensitization and training related to gender-based violence.