Rethinking Teenage Pregnancy Prevention | Juliana Marquez Salej | TEDxColegioAngloColombiano

Summary

This powerful video sheds light on the global issue of teenage pregnancies, focusing on the heartbreaking realities faced by young girls, especially in Colombia. The script highlights the detrimental effects, including school abandonment, poverty, and abuse, with a call for better education, informed communities, and prevention strategies. Through personal stories, interviews, and initiatives from cities like Bogota, the speaker emphasizes the importance of empowering teenagers, engaging adults, and fostering collaborative efforts to effectively combat teenage pregnancies. The video encourages change by emphasizing the need for better sex education and community involvement.

Takeaways

• 😀 17.4% of pregnancies in Colombia involve girls aged 15 to 19, and complications from pregnancy are the leading cause of mortality for girls in this age group globally.
• 😀 Teenage pregnancies are heartbreaking, often resulting in power inequality, school abandonment, and young teens entering the workforce in informal, low-paying jobs.
• 😀 Kendry, who got pregnant at 13 by a 22-year-old, and Paola, who tried unsafe methods to prevent pregnancy, represent just two of the many real-life stories showing the tragic consequences of teenage pregnancy.
• 😀 Teenage pregnancy often results from sexual abuse, with 99.2% of pregnancies in Colombia involving a teenager and an adult, emphasizing power imbalances in these situations.
• 😀 Misinformation and myths about sexuality are widespread, with teens often spreading inaccurate information about contraception and sexual health.
• 😀 To prevent teenage pregnancies, it's necessary to rethink current approaches and improve education on contraception, sexual health, and reproductive rights.
• 😀 Programs like the ones in Milwaukee, which show the harsh realities of teenage parenthood through PSAs and replaced vending machine items, raise awareness but are not enough on their own.
• 😀 Teenagers must be involved in the prevention efforts. Peer-to-peer education, where teens teach other teens about sexual health, has proven to be an effective strategy.
• 😀 A program in Bogota allowed teens to ask anonymous questions about sexuality, making them feel safe and supported in gaining accurate knowledge.
• 😀 Collaboration between teens and adults is essential. The UK's Allison Hadleigh-Lindsay's strategy reduced teenage pregnancies by 60% through coordinated efforts between governments, doctors, teachers, and teens.

Q & A

What is the teenage pregnancy rate in Colombia?

In Colombia, 17.4% of pregnancies are from girls aged 15 to 19.

What is the leading cause of mortality in girls aged 15 to 19 worldwide?

Pregnancy and childbirth complications are the leading cause of mortality for girls aged 15 to 19 around the world.

What societal consequences does teenage pregnancy lead to?

Teenage pregnancy often leads to power inequality, school abandonment, early entry into the workforce, and informal jobs that don't provide enough income for a sustainable life.

How did the speaker first become aware of the issue of teenage pregnancy?

The speaker became aware of teenage pregnancy through a journalism program they watched with their family, which highlighted the real-life experiences of teenage girls affected by pregnancy.

What are some of the methods that teens use to prevent pregnancy, as mentioned in the script?

One example is Paola from Bogotá, who uses a home remedy involving seven pills of acetaminophen to prevent pregnancy, which reflects misinformation and lack of proper education.

What impact does teenage pregnancy have on education and personal well-being?

Teenage pregnancy often forces girls to abandon school, which limits their future opportunities, and it can lead to physical, emotional abuse, and health complications such as gestational diabetes.

What are the key lessons learned from the experiences of the three women shared in the script?

The three women taught the speaker that teenage pregnancies are often a result of power inequality and sexual abuse, that there is a lot of misinformation about sexuality, and that society needs to rethink how it prevents teenage pregnancies.

What steps have governments taken to address teenage pregnancy?

Governments have released public service announcements (PSAs), replaced snacks in vending machines with diapers and baby formulas, and created platforms for teens to ask questions about sexuality and reproductive rights.

How can teenagers effectively contribute to preventing teenage pregnancies?

Teenagers can contribute by educating themselves about sexual health topics such as STDs, contraception, and relationships, and by teaching other teens to break myths and spread accurate information.

What was the impact of the teenage pregnancy strategy implemented in the UK, as shared by Allison Hadley Lindsay?

The strategy, which involved collaboration among governments, doctors, teachers, and teens, led to a 60% reduction in teenage pregnancies in the UK.