Despite a drop in the overall birth rate, the number of children born to teenage mothers has remained steadily above 220 a year for the past eight years.

Last year, 247 children were born to mothers under the age of 20. But 26 teenage mothers were already giving birth for the second time while two were having their third child. Four mothers were younger than 15.

Family planning doctor Mario Rizzo Naudi says the figures are shocking because they show Maltese teenagers are experimenting with sex at increasingly younger ages and are not taking the necessary precautions.

He blames this on lack of awareness and advice, coupled with the absence of a national holistic strategy.

He has been carrying out research on the subject and has recently given a heartfelt talk to doctors where he spoke about the need to equip children with the information and tools necessary to curb the rate of teenage and unwanted pregnancies.

Dr Rizzo Naudi says teenage mothers are not mature enough physically or psychologically to handle motherhood and are therefore prone to medical complications.

He adds that the vast majority of pregnant teenagers apply for social assistance, costing the taxpayers millions of euros each year.

"No one is giving this its due attention. We are only helping those who already have a child and we are not focusing on prevention. In fact, teenage mothers are not learning their lesson, with some already having their second and third child," he says.

He says the relevant authorities have been doing the ostrich act and society is now reaping the result of this lethargy.

He believes that sexual advice is the shared responsibility of parents and schools. He says parents should talk openly and respectfully in order to develop a two-way relationship where teenagers are willing to share their own experiences and are ready to listen.

He also thinks parents should take the lead through supervision and an interest in their lives. They should ensure that, while their children are young, they concentrate more on school, sports and hobbies than on dating and getting the wrong messages from the media.

Schools, on the other hand, should engage young teenagers by providing alternative activities while providing family planning and sexual education. Young people should be provided with reproductive information and birth control, he says.

"Unfortunately, such programmes have often encountered staunch opposition on the local scene.

"But by pulling the same rope together we can achieve the same positive results achieved elsewhere in the civilised world," he argues.

Quoting a UK activist Jan Barlow he says: "We are setting teenagers adrift in this sexualised society without giving them the tools to look after themselves."

cperegin@timesofmalta.com

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