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Addressing unplanned adolescent pregnancy in Vanuatu
For the first time, stories and experiences of adolescent girls and young women in Vanuatu who face unplanned pregnancy and motherhood are being shared from the ‘Adolescent Unplanned Pregnancy in the Pacific – Vanuatu’ report.
The ‘Adolescent Unplanned Pregnancy in the Pacific – Vanuatu’ report contains research about the experiences of adolescent girls and young women in Vanuatu who face unplanned pregnancy and motherhood. The final report was developed by the University of NSW (UNSW) supported by the Australian Government.
The report has been launched in Port Vila, at a high-level workshop convened by the Pacific Community (SPC) through the Pacific Women Lead at SPC (PWL at SPC) programme in partnership with implementing partner CARE in Vanuatu, held from 5-6 August.
For the research, data was collected in Sanma, Tafea and Shefa, with logistical support provided by CARE in Vanuatu, in Tafea Province.
Similar research was also carried out in Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and in Tonga, showing that adolescent girls often face significant gaps in sexual and reproductive knowledge. This is often due to inadequate reproductive health education, negative attitudes from healthcare workers, and family restrictions on accessing community education programs, resulting in delayed maternity care and potential adverse health outcomes.
The research investigated traditional and current knowledge and practices of fertility limitation from the viewpoints of older women and the experiences of adolescent girls and young women. The research further explains how adolescent girls and young women often have trouble managing relationships, this includes pregnant girls’ fear of parental anger and social exclusion.
A key recommendation from the research is the need to expand programmes for adolescent girls that offer reproductive health rights information, service referrals, and opportunities to empower girls and young women to make informed decisions.
It also highlights the need to introduce comprehensive reproductive health education for adolescents in schools; develop policies and processes to ensure girls can remain in education; conduct workshops for health workers and other key stakeholders to remove access barriers and disincentives caused by discriminatory attitudes.
Recommendations were discussed in the workshop followed by a series of one-on-one consultations led by the Pacific Women Lead at SPC (PWL at SPC) programme team with the support of CARE in Vanuatu.
According to Wilmaraia Sinumila, CARE in Vanuatu’s Country Director, the research will help participants to better understand the context of unplanned adolescent pregnancy from the point of view of young women or girls.
“On behalf of the CARE in Vanuatu team, we look forward to strengthening, supporting and working with you, as our key partners and stakeholders towards the recommendations,” Ms Sinumila said.
“Change may not happen overnight, but it is the first step, and it is always important to take that first step. We have a collective responsibility. The research findings will be disseminated, we will know what the results are and so we can no longer be ignorant.”
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Sarah Mecartney, Director of the SPC Melanesia Regional Office, says, ‘it is one thing to do research but if there is no action, it will stay as it is. We want to make sure that work is lifted and reaches where it needs to be. Young girls’ and boys’ matter, they are our future.”
“This research is invaluable to strengthening our collective responses and services by paying attention to the experiences and the needs of those affected. We can develop more effective responses and create a supportive environment where every young person has the opportunity to grow; Yumi Tugeta Yumi Strong,” Ms Mecartney said.
Representing the Australian High Commission in Vanuatu, Programme Manager, Jodie Kapalu, said “the Australian Government strongly believes in supporting everyone in society to fully reach their full potential and that goes for young women whether people with or without disabilities, young and old.”
The research report is available from CARE in Vanuatu, Port Vila.
Media Contacts:
Wilmararia Sinumila, CARE Vanuatu, Country Director, phone: +678 22951, email: [email protected] website: care.org.au/vanuatu
Jacqui Berrell, Communications Adviser, Pacific Community (SPC), Pacific Women Lead at SPC programme - Human Rights and Social Development (HRSD) Division | [email protected]
For general media enquiries, please contact [email protected]
About CARE in Vanuatu:
CARE in Vanuatu (CiV) is an International Humanitarian Aid Organization Fighting Global Poverty, with a special focus on working with women and girls to bring lasting change to their communities. CARE has been working in Vanuatu since 2008 helping communities to increase their resilience to disasters and climate change, respond to emergencies and to advance gender equality. CARE'S Gender Equality Program takes a comprehensive, integrated, and inclusive approach to achieve positive social change. This is to support the national movement for gender equality in Vanuatu by investing efforts in women and girl’s collective leadership, capacity and collective action for a more equal and violence free Vanuatu. To this end, CARE works with a range of stakeholders - chiefs, families, individuals, young women, men, adolescents, and service providers.
About Pacific Girl:
Pacific Girl is a multi-country programme to support adolescent girls in Pacific Island countries achieve their full potential. Designed for and by girls, Pacific Girl is the only regional programme in the Pacific dedicated to advancing the rights and opportunities of adolescent girls. Pacific Girl is managed by the Pacific Women Lead at SPC (PWL at SPC) programme, supported by the Australian Government.
About SPC:
The Pacific Community has been supporting sustainable development in the Pacific, through science, knowledge and innovation since 1947. It is the principal intergovernmental organisation in the region, owned and governed by its 27 member countries and territories. www.spc.int
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Media Contacts:
Wilmararia Sinumila, CARE Vanuatu, Country Director |+678 22951 | [email protected]
Jacqui Berrell, Communications Adviser, Pacific Community (SPC), Pacific Women Lead at SPC programme - Human Rights and Social Development (HRSD) Division | [email protected]
For general media enquiries, please contact [email protected]
About CARE in Vanuatu:
CARE in Vanuatu (CiV) is an International Humanitarian Aid Organization Fighting Global Poverty, with a special focus on working with women and girls to bring lasting change to their communities. CARE has been working in Vanuatu since 2008 helping communities to increase their resilience to disasters and climate change, respond to emergencies and to advance gender equality. CARE'S Gender Equality Program takes a comprehensive, integrated, and inclusive approach to achieve positive social change. This is to support the national movement for gender equality in Vanuatu by investing efforts in women and girl’s collective leadership, capacity and collective action for a more equal and violence free Vanuatu. To this end, CARE works with a range of stakeholders - chiefs, families, individuals, young women, men, adolescents, and service providers. care.org.au/vanuatu
About Pacific Girl:
Pacific Girl is a multi-country programme to support adolescent girls in Pacific Island countries achieve their full potential. Designed for and by girls, Pacific Girl is the only regional programme in the Pacific dedicated to advancing the rights and opportunities of adolescent girls. Pacific Girl is managed by the Pacific Women Lead at SPC (PWL at SPC) programme, supported by the Australian Government.
