Ten Thousand Teenage Pregnancies Expected this year

The high number of teenage pregnancies in Panama is an issue that needs addressing in the home and the school, said former Minister of Health Guillermo Rolla Pimentel. Coordinator of the Panamanian Coalition for Comprehensive Sexual Education, added that until the problem is faced, the stats will continue to grow.

Both officials called for legislative action to approve a sex ed curriculum for public schools. The legislative proposal is awaiting second reading in the National Assembly. The number of pregnant teenagers this year is expected to be about the same as the last two years. In 2014, there were 10,735 teen pregnancies reported, and 10,152 in 2013.