The increase in teenage pregnancies in Fiji is a concern that should not be blamed solely on the church, according to a senior official from the Methodist Church. Reverend Jolame Lasawa, General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, pointed out that tackling teenage pregnancy requires a collective responsibility from the entire community.
His remarks came after there has been a noticeable rise in teenage pregnancies linked to large gatherings and school holidays. Opposition MP Penioni Ravunawa raised concerns during the ongoing Term Two break for primary and secondary school students, as many events such as church conferences, youth camps, and festivals are taking place across the nation.
Data from the Ministry of Health revealed that between 2018 and 2021, there were 1,279 recorded cases of teenage pregnancy, with 1,057 among iTaukei, 178 Indo-Fijians, and 44 from other ethnic groups. Reverend Lasawa highlighted that teenage pregnancy is not only prevalent in schools but also within village communities.
The statistics illustrated that the Central Division had the most cases, totaling 636, followed by 350 in the Western Division, 60 in the Northern Division, and 11 in the Eastern Division. Reverend Lasawa emphasized the efforts of the church’s education and youth departments to address teenage pregnancy, insisting that the responsibility for this issue extends beyond the church itself.
MP Ravunawa expressed that teenage pregnancies and childbirth significantly affect female dropout rates in high school and lead to increased costs for health care and foster care, alongside various developmental challenges for children born to teenage mothers. He noted the heightened risks for infants born to young mothers, including premature birth, low birth weight, and increased mortality rates.