Resumo

FRANCISCO, José M.. Teenage pregnancy in Venezuela. Reappraisal of the problem. An Venez Nutr [online]. 2023, vol.36, n.1, pp.22-37.  Epub 07-Jul-2024. ISSN 0798-0752.  https://doi.org/10.54624/2023.36.1.004.

Teenage pregnancy in Venezuela is a public health problem due to its incidence and repercussions over life-quality of mothers, their children, and the society in general. Even though with proper attention there is an incidence decrease possibility. In 2014 the Venezuelan Age-Specific Fertility Rate (15-19 age group) was the highest in South America and was the fourth among Latin America and the Caribbean nations. To study teenage pregnancy in the country last decade official available data (2003-2012) was analyzed by number, percentage, and rates. Between 2014 and 2015 the number of births from teenage mothers at two public and two private hospitals was analyzed (11 596 births: 2.438). Of those, 2.403 births were registered at public hospitals (25.8%) while 35 (1.5%) were at private clinic. At public hospitals 95% of live births were from teenage mothers (15-19 years) and 5% were mothers aged 10-14. In 2011 and 2012 the fertility rates for 15-19-year-olds (international official indicator) increased. Other characteristics and tendencies are analyzed: age of mothers, abortion frequency and prenatal visits. According to the INE (National Institute of Statistics) in 2012, last year of available information, there were 143 491 live births from teenage mothers (aged 10-19 WHO) registered in Venezuela, which represents the 23.4% of the total number of annual births. Pregnancy of teenagers is a social multisectoral failure that recycles poverty and increase underdevelopment. The magnitude of the problem requires the design and implementation of public policies as well as specific permanent strategies to reduce the incidence.

Palavras-chave : teenage pregnancy; adolescent; early pregnancy; Venezuela..

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