In a renewed effort to combat adolescent and child pregnancy, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), has launched a nationwide awareness campaign titled “Let’s End Child Pregnancies.”
The initiative, unveiled on Wednesday October 22. 2025 at the Sophia Health Centre, marked the official start of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Week 2025 and seeks to promote safe motherhood while reducing adolescent pregnancies across Guyana.
The campaign focuses on a “safe motherhood approach,” emphasising the importance of family planning, prenatal care, and healthy lifestyle choices. It also aims to empower adolescent mothers with information and support to ensure healthy pregnancies and safe deliveries.
During the launch, healthcare professionals led discussions on key topics such as adolescent pregnancy prevention, maternal and infant care, recognizing emergency signs during pregnancy, and understanding referral pathways for timely medical assistance.
A central feature of the event was the introduction of the ‘Roadmap Tool,’ designed to help adolescent mothers understand the stages of a healthy pregnancy and the benefits of family planning. The interactive session encouraged open dialogue and included a Q&A segment, where nurses and doctors provided practical advice on labour, breastfeeding, and postnatal care.
Nurses from the Sophia Health Centre also shared valuable information on registering newborns for postnatal clinics and maintaining access to family planning services after childbirth.
With similar activities planned for health facilities across the country, the campaign reaffirms the joint commitment of the Government of Guyana and PAHO to supporting adolescent health and reducing early pregnancies. It also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at lowering adolescent pregnancy rates and improving maternal health outcomes by 2030.
While the launch represents a step forward, child pregnancy remains a pressing concern in Guyana. The term refers to pregnancies among girls under the age of 18, with particular concern for those under 15, as these are considered serious violations of children’s rights and public health challenges.
According to reports from the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and PAHO:
- Definition: Child pregnancy includes pregnancies among girls under 18, with those under 15 classified as early adolescent or child pregnancies.
- Prevalence: Guyana records one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Latin America and the Caribbean. About 18 percent of girls aged 15–19 have begun childbearing — meaning they are either pregnant or have already given birth.
- Under-15 pregnancies: Though data are limited, reports indicate a small but significant number of pregnancies among girls under 15, particularly in rural, hinterland, and Indigenous communities.
Health officials emphasised that these realities highlight the need for continued advocacy and action. The “Let’s End Child Pregnancies” campaign, they said, is part of a broader national effort to empower young people through education, strengthen family and community support systems, and improve access to sexual and reproductive health services.
By combining awareness, healthcare, and education, the initiative aims to safeguard the health, rights, and future of Guyana’s young girls.
