Pregant teenager Ying (L), 16, and another expecting woman stand together at the Promotion of the Status of Women in Bangkok. Photo: Nicolas Asfouri / AFP
Not only does Thailand get high marks for its liquor-drinking, but its gaining notoriety for children born of children.
Thailand ranks second in teen pregnancy among its nine ASEAN neighbors, the Ministry of Public Health revealed at a press conference today. And 6,000 teenagers become infected with Gonorrhoea each year, it helpfully added in its pre-Valentine’s Day admonition.
To be more specific, 5.4 percent of all babies born in Thailand are themselves born to child-moms, fewer than half of which practice safe sex with any form of protection, said Dr. Wachira Pengchan, a ministry deputy permanent secretary.
In order to expand its outreach and spread some birds-and-bees knowledge, the ministry has sponsored youth clinics at 835 hospitals nationwide to give teens advice on safe sex.
The clinics will follow three strategies: educate youths about teen pregnancy, advise teens how to practice safe sex and provide support to pregnant teenagers.
Under its “Smart Teen” campaign, the organization will also launch another sex-ed app to teach teens sex education, Thairath reported. We think they should consider calling it “Flappy Bird” to guarantee millions of downloads.
Related:
Thai teen pregnancy on the rise as sex education misses the young
Me Sex: State-funded app offers refreshingly honest guide to masturbation and safe sex
