While it may be counterintuitive for some parents, teaching teens about sex actually decreases their chances of unintended pregnancy, according to CARICOM officials.

 

In partnership with the United Nations Population Fund, CARICOM member states including the Virgin Islands are working on national action plans to reduce teen pregnancy, following last year’s Regional Framework for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy as a guide.

In the VI, the action plan is being overseen by the Ministry of Health and Social Development, which recently hosted a stakeholder meeting that included representatives from youth groups, schools, and the medical profession.

The main focus areas for the plan are age-appropriate sex education; access to health care, including contraceptives, for teens; support for teen parents; and reforming the laws around teen sexuality and health care, explained Dr. Mario Aguilar, the reproductive-health advisor who facilitated the meeting.

See the Oct. 22, 2015 edition for full coverage.

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