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Uruguay seeks to lower teenage pregnancy rate

Xinhua, September 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Some 17 percent of infants in Uruguay are born to adolescents aged 15 to 19, and the government aims to change the situation, local media reported on Tuesday.

Each year, about 7,900 children are born to teenage mothers, representing 16.9 percent of all births, "and it is a high rate that has stagnated (at that level) since 1996," the daily El Observador said.

The government has made lowering the incidence of teenage pregnancy a "priority," Public Health Minister Jorge Basso said at an event to present a new strategy over the issue.

The Education Ministry, Social Development Ministry and three other government agencies will join Ministry of Public Health in the efforts, he said, adding that the strategy will involve better health workers and raise awareness about teenage pregnancy.

The Ministry of Public Health aims to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancies by launching a smartphone application called "Sex Guru" to educate teenagers about the risks of early pregnancy and their rights to free birth control, the daily said.

A pilot program will also be launched to make contraceptives such as condoms more easily available by placing vending machines in locations such as bowling alleys, schools and sports clubs. Endi