Slight rise in teenage pregnancies
The rate of teenage pregnancies remained high last year, with 277 babies born to young mothers out of a total of 4,180 total births.
The number of births from teenage pregnancies totalled 276 in 2008, according to the national obstetrics information system.
In 2003, there were 221 such births, rising to 222 in 2004, 228 in 2005, 237 in 2006 and 247 in 2007.
The system also includes information on the impact of the influenza pandemic on expectant mothers. With vaccination unavailable in 2009, doctors advised pregnant women with flu-related symptoms to undergo the necessary tests and receive antiviral treatment if found positive. Of the 4,112 mothers who gave birth last year, only 10 were infected, with seven of them taking medication. All gave birth to healthy babies. Of these, 52.1 per cent were boys and 47.9 per cent girls.
Overall, the number of births dropped by 1.1 per cent, to 4,180 from 4,228, 99.8 per cent of them in hospitals: 3,937 were born in Malta and 243 in Gozo.
Last year, 28 babies were stillborn. This is the third highest figure in the past 10 years with the first being 33 in 1999, followed by 29 in 2008. Another 18 babies died in as many cases of neonatal deaths.
Meanwhile, the 4,180 deliveries, included triplets and 31 twins.
Sixty-five per cent of mothers gave birth naturally and 35 per cent were born by an emergency or elective Caesarean, or assisted delivery, which includes forceps.
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Joseph Calleja
Jun 10th 2010, 16:06
he same old song. Until Malta introduces sex education in schools and allow birth control pills and condoms to be sold at pharmacies, this problem is going to grow. 277 babies born to young mothers and obviously Father Unknown? Unfortunately these are the times we live in whether we like it or not. We have become part of the 21st century but only in some ways. When it comes to sex education in schools we are far behind. The church and the government should go after these unknown fathers and make them accept responsibility for their offspring. Stop babying the single mother because she is just as responsible unless it is a matter of rape. I suggest Dr Vassallo and Mr Joe Zammit pry into this matter and try to convince the church and the government that SEX EDUCATION is a matter of priority. After all you put up such a fight about abortion. Prevention is the best way and please, please, forget trying to sell the idea of abstinence, that ship has sailed, even some priests missed that one.
CZARB
Jun 11th 2010, 07:41
England has ample sex education and yet teenage pregnancies are higher there then they are now. I do agree with sex education but we also need to make sure that we our social services do not act as an incentive rather then simply a safety net. In my opinion single mothers with 'unknown father' status should be given a temporary job where they have to work for the money given to them by the state rather then simple pay cheques.
Eric Gahn
Jun 10th 2010, 13:32
That's what you get when you allow pornography in hotels.
Joseph Calleja
Jun 10th 2010, 16:17
How do you know that? How about irresponsibility? Maybe on drugs? Maybe a few drinks too many? Maybe a whole lot of ignorance and passion? Maybe after a few drinks too many? You are not that naive are you? There are a lot of ways a woman can prevent pregnancy but she chooses not to. Only in a case of rape is such a thing excusable. I don't think women get pregnant because they watch pornography in a hotel room, do you?
CZARB
Jun 11th 2010, 07:42
Yeah I guess all of them where watching porn in a hotel when the 'incident' happened.
P. Ciantar
Jun 10th 2010, 13:14
This comes as no surprise since:
- Maltese society is still afraid of the word "condom";
- the request for a condom machine installed at the UoM was recently declined (strengthening the point I made above);
- sex education in schools is severly lacking...it is pointless having scrupulous PSD teachers who are afraid to talk openly about sex to their students;
- most people have absolutely no knowledge of STIs or contraceptive methods. Rather than wasting air time on local TV stations advertising mops and kunserva, there should be more educational features by the Health Sector to bring about at least a bit of awareness.
But before the government takes this into consideration, we'll just have to put up with the young generations running around with pushchairs before they even hit puberty.
victor rodenas
Jun 10th 2010, 11:48
out of the 4180 babies born how many were not of maltese families?
HelenaVan't hof Visiter
Jun 10th 2010, 13:13
What difference how many not of maltese blood, the fact remains is that the Maltese are still living in the dark ages and sex education to them is Taboo, the church doesn't help much either as it is the main obsticle, also cencership laws, and legalising prostitution.. Grow up Malta and come out that thick shell of yours, I am Dutch and we are proud of our country and our laws, the fact remains is that Holland has the lowest pregnacies cases in the whole of europe including your country, and for a tiny country its sure is alot of unwanted babies, so nationality or mixed race or blood is not the problem my friend... Eduction Education and more education is the only wat forward for the 21st.Century. Saying this we love your country and your people why spoil it because of some ignorant & Old fashioned has beens in power who tend to set the rules according to thier own feelings and selfishness, this is the same for cohibiting and not allowed to attend or receive holy communion, how selfish and silly, instead to drawing people in you are actually pushing them further and further away.
victor rodenas
Jun 10th 2010, 14:25
Do not be too sure that the Maltese are living in the dark ages,talking about sex.Maltese families now only have one or two children,so that does`nt make them much naive about contraception .Malta is getting multicultural by a fast rate.People of other cultures living in Malta ,have more babies than the Maltese.....that is why I asked for the amount of babies born to Maltese families....Besides ,and I am not sure of this(if I am wrong I apologize) your country is on top of the list for suicides.If this is correct,how come being so open minded and there are so many suicides,something is wrong.