Thursday, March 28, 2024

Baby drop

Date:

Share post:

BABIES BORN TO TEENS in Barbados are at their lowest in more than three decades.

According to statistics from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), where the vast majority of deliveries take place, 283 babies were born to mothers between 13 and 19 years old last year.

It was the lowest number recorded at the hospital since 1980 and represented 11.86 per cent of total births, which arealso declining consistently (see table).

Former Barbados Family Planning Association (BFPA) director George Griffith noted that the actual teen birth rates would even be lower if 18- and 19-year-olds were not counted among the statistics.

Pointing out that those two ages accounted for the bulk of pregnancies, he argued that they were really adults and should not be recorded as teens.

Please read the full story in today’s Daily Nation, or in the eNATION edition.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related articles

Joe Lieberman, former vice presidential candidate, dies at 82

Former US Senator and vice-presidential candidate Joe Lieberman has died at 82. The cause was complications from a fall,...

Duo praised for cleaning mission

Two young men rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty when they saw the unkempt state...

Debt sustainable, says Governor

Central Bank Governor Dr Kevin Greenidge is maintaining that Barbados debt “remains quite sustainable," but he says...

Flood watch discontinued

The Barbados Meteorological Services (BMS) has discontinued the flash-flood watch it issued earlier, with immediate effect. A press release...