KINGSTON, Jamaica — Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson says that the rate of adolescent pregnancy in Jamaica is still too high with 18 per cent of live births occurring to teenage mothers.

Dr Ferguson added that over 30 per cent of first sexual intercourse among adolescents occurred without contraceptive.

“For every 100 of our boys below the age of consent 35 per cent of them are no longer innocent.Twelve per cent of our girls below the age of 15 have already initiated sexual activity. These children are having sex with each other and with adults, in casual transactional and committed relationships. They are important users of sexual reproductive health services and a key target for improving population health and education,” said Dr Ferguson.

He was speaking at the inter-ministerial meeting on adolescent sexual reproductive health held at the Knutsford Court hotel in Kingston Wednesday morning.

Dr Ferguson said that there were legal, policy and cultural issues, which created barriers and have implications for young people’s access to reproductive health services in Jamaica.

“These challenges create uncertainties and affect actions taken by practitioners and technocrats. They also compromise the ability of young people to access information, education and services,” Dr Ferguson argued.