Thailand has set a goal to reduce teenage pregnancies to no more than 15 per 1,000 females by 2027, said Somsak Thepsuthin, acting health minister, at the 4th National Conference on Healthy Sexuality on August 14.
The number of teenage pregnancies in Thailand had decreased by more than half in the decade up to 2022, dropping to 21 per 1,000 females aged 15 and 19, down from 53.4 per 1,000 in 2012, he said.
The 4th National Conference on Healthy Sexuality took as its theme "Strong Community for Healthy Sexuality.” It was aimed at building collaboration across all sectors to address sexual health issues at the community level.
Over 1,000 participants from various organisations involved in tackling teenage pregnancy, including sexual health advocates and youth leaders, attended the event.
Dr. Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, the director of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), emphasised important measures, saying, “Teenagers must be equipped with skills to prevent unwanted sexual activity, in order to delay parenthood during their school years.”
Society and communities must support access to sexual health knowledge and promote safe reproductive health, he added.
Pongthep also said that it is important to eliminate stigma and promote supportive services for young people facing unplanned pregnancies.
