Teenagers know that if they don’t protect themselves, they will get pregnant. However, because the frontal lobe of teenagers is not fully developed, they decide to take risks. From the experience of working with teenagers, doctors find that when it comes to teenagers having partners, parents are usually the last to know. This reflects that “The person the child wants to be closest to is the person the child fears the most. Because of the power of love, children are afraid of disappointing their parents, afraid of making them sad.” Especially parents who clearly state their disapproval or forbid having a partner, or parents who don’t have much time for their children. The challenge is how parents can understand that they need to prepare their children to be aware of life management, not just to succeed academically. “Doing well in school doesn’t mean everything else will be fine.”
The Role of Parents
An important issue often found in parents is parents being glued to screens and not listening to their children. For example, when a child tells them that their friend has a partner, parents often respond by forbidding it, saying to finish school first and not to have a partner yet. The child then suppresses their feelings, while friends understand, so the child talks more with friends. Parents should raise their children to accept who they are, listen more than instruct. How can we be parents whom children respect and have faith in? If we only focus on academic survival, children will lack life skills and be unable to think critically. When they face problems, they won’t be able to solve them. Parents should train their children’s brains to think and analyze to develop the frontal lobe. The way parents respond is crucial. Asking questions like “What do you think?” will enhance the child’s cognitive intelligence and life skills. Parents must also consider that today there are many channels through which children can communicate quickly, such as Facebook, LINE, etc.
Wanting Women to Have Safe Choices… If Unprepared for Pregnancy
The key point in working to help solve problems for women is during the crisis period. Terminating a pregnancy within nine weeks can be done safely and with minimal trauma. However, most children realize they are pregnant after the gestational age exceeds the limit, leaving them with no choice. It is found that the limitations and risks for teenagers in unsafe pregnancy termination are that they can’t tell anyone. Many countries have laws that don’t require parental knowledge, allowing children to decide for themselves. Currently, there is information on safe medical abortion, but it is not widely known. Women still lack access to services, even though they should have access due to unpreparedness. Therefore, we should help children realize that they can choose the best option, learn, and have lessons in decision-making because life must go on.
Merit… Sin… An Obstacle to Addressing Teen Pregnancy?
The values of merit… sin… may stem from viewing preserving life as beautiful, while terminating a pregnancy is seen as evil, sinful…
It is observed that many times when women are unprepared for pregnancy and want an abortion, those around them, such as partners, parents, and relatives, refuse, saying it’s sinful. This forces women to continue the pregnancy despite being unprepared. However, safe abortion is a woman’s health right. If services are denied due to beliefs in merit and sin, and the pregnancy continues, it is also sinful. Because a child born from unpreparedness, growing up without care, “was not wanted from the start,” this life is also sinful.
Where Have the Boys Gone?
After problems arise, it is found that 60-70% of boys disappear from the lives of the girls. Therefore, it is essential to work with boys, making them more aware and responsible, and empowering girls to make their own choices. Additionally, the societal mindset regarding gender roles in Thailand, where men and women are treated differently, needs to be adjusted. While men don’t have to think much or take responsibility, the response of boys is significant in determining whether the burden falls on women or if women have the right to choose.
Source: Seminar “Pregnancy, Abortion, Care, and Dedication”
Speaker: Dr. Jiraporn Arunakul, Ramathibodi Hospital (Dr. Oh – Parenting Outside the Home Page)
Academic Conference “Intensive 4 Menus for Teen Pregnancy Care” on October 27, 2016