Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
JULIA TERBORG
UNFPA/MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS/ PROJECT TEEN MOTHERS IN SCHOOL
PARAMARIBO, NOVEMBER 2011
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
Table of Contents
List of Tables ... 3
List of Figures ... 3
List of Abbreviations ... 4
Acknowledgements ... 5
1. General background ... 6
2. Theoretical perspectives and empirical findings ... 10
3. Situation analysis Suriname ... 13
3.1 Demographic profile of Suriname population, including youth in Suriname. ... 13
3.2 Adolescent Fertility ... 14
3.3. Socio economic and cultural characteristics of young mothers ... 19
3.4 Young wives ... 24
3.5 Access to education and employment ... 26
3.6 Sexual activity and knowledge and use of contraceptives ... 28
3.7. Abortion ... 32
3.8. HIV ... 34
3.9. Adolescent’s perceptions on barriers related to teen motherhood ... 37
4. National Policies and Programs ... 38
4.1. Adolescent fertility related policy documents ... 38
4.2. Poverty reduction policies ... 40
4.3. Government programs ... 42
4.4 Non government programs ... 50
5. Recommendations ... 53
REFERENCES ... 55
List of Tables
Table 1: Adolescent Fertility Rates by Wealth Quintile and Region (per 1000) ... 10
Table 2: Demographic profile. Medium variant 2000-2010 ... 13
Table 3: Age specific fertility rate, general fertility rate (GFR), total fertility rate (TFR) and gross reproduction rate (GRR), 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995 ... 14
Table 4: Average adolescent birth rate in some countries, 2000 – 2007 ... 16
Table 5: Proportion of national annual live births from teen mothers, 2000-2007 ... 17
Table 6: Women who gave birth, by age group, 2005-2007 ... 18
Table 7: Women delivering their first live birth by age group, 2005-2007 ... 18
Table 8: Young mothers, aged 15-24 years, by mother tongue of head household ... 20
Table 9: Women aged 15-19 and aged 20-24, by ethnic group of head household ... 20
Table 10: Young mothers, aged 15-24 years, by ethnic group, head household and district ... 21
Table 11: Young mothers, aged 15-24 years, by wealth quintile household... 22
Table 13: Young mothers, aged 15-24 years, by wealth index quintiles and ethnic group of HH ... 22
Table 12: Young mothers by age and by wealth quintile household ... 23
Table 14: Young wives, by age group at marriage 2005-2007 ... 24
Table 15: Young mothers, aged 15-24 years, by ethnic group of HH, by type of partnerrelation ... 26
Table 16: Currently using a method to avoid pregnancy ... 29
Table 17: Women, aged 15-24, currently using a method to avoid pregnancy ... 30
Table 18: Women, aged 15-24, currently using a method to avoid pregnancy by ... 30
Table 19: Women, aged 15-24, who ever had an abortion, by ethnic group of HH ... 32
Table 20: Annual Registered Teen mothers at the PSM, MOECD ... 48
List of Figures Figure 1: Population size youngsters, aged 10-24 years, 2006-2008 ... 13
Figure 2: Total fertility rates in Suriname for the years 1980-2007... 14
Figure 3: Adolescent Birth rate in Suriname, 1980 -2007 ... 15
Figure 4: Total number of live births, 1995-2007 ... 16
Figure 5: Number of annual live births of mothers, aged < 19 years, 1990 – 2007 ... 17
Figure 6: Young parents by age and by sex, 2011 in 5 communities ... 24
Figure 7: Young wives, by age group at marriage, 2007 ... 25
Figure 8: Adolescent birthrate against adolescent abortion rate in selected countries, 2009 ... 33
Figure 9: Abortion clients by age group ... 33
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
List of Abbreviations
ABS Algemeen Bureau voor de Statistiek AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome CARICOM Caribbean Community
CBB Centraal Bureau voor Burgerzaken
CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women CPD Center for People’s Development
GFR General Fertility Rate GNP Gross National Product GO Governmental Organization HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
ICPD International Conference on Population and Development IDB International Development Bank
LAT Living Apart Together
MDG Millennium Development Goals MICS Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey MOH Ministry of Health
MSAH Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing MSM Men who have Sex with Men
NBG Nationaal Bureau Genderbeleid NGO Non-Governmental Organization NSP National Strategic Plan
PAHO Pan-American Health Organization PRSP Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper PoA Program of Action
PSM Project Scholieren Moeders STI Sexually Transmitted Infections TFR Total Fertility Rate
UNDP United Nations Development Fund
UNFPA United Nations Fund for Population Activities UNICEF United Nations Children Fund
WHO World Health Organization YAM Youth Advocacy Movement
Acknowledgements
This report contributes to the strategy of the Sub-Regional Office for Caribbean, to advance the ICPD goals and issues related to youth, and increase our understanding on ‘Adolescent fertility in general and in particular in relation with poverty.
The report reflects the results of a very fruitful cooperation between the Ministry of Youth and Sport, in particular the Sub-Directorate of Youth Affairs, and the UNFPA Country Office in Suriname, supporting their joint efforts to improve the situation of young people in Suriname We thank all for their contributions, however small and express gratitude to all stakeholders who were very cooperative and very willing to share data and information.
Special thanks to: Faranaaz Pahalwankhan and Jacqueline Warso from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing, who were very helpful in providing MICS data; Rita Harlequin-Graauw, Urdize de Getrouwe and Margo Roseval-Linger from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs–
Sub-Directorate Youth Affairs, for providing the necessary feedback; the consultant Julia Terborg and her team of assistants, for their dedication; and last but not least the teen- mothers, who were willing to share their stories.
We trust that the study findings will contribute to improved and effective actions aimed at creating equal opportunities for young mothers and an integrated approach of stakeholders to end the vicious circle of poverty
Judith Brielle, MSc
UNFPA Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean - Suriname
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
1. General background
‘We remind the decision-makers present that the largest ever generation of youth is also one of the greatest assets for achieving development – but, so far, the lack of progress to achieve the MDG´s has been disappointing. Almost half of the world’s population is under 25 years of age and 85 per cent of the 1 billion people aged 15–24 live in developing countries. Therefore, the needs and the role of youth must be recognized in national economic development plans. As Kofi Annan once said: "The youth are not only leaders of tomorrow but partners of today"
and, "A society that cuts itself off from the youth severs the lifeline; it is condemned to bleed to death". ( Source:
Final Statement of the NGO Global Meeting World Youth Conference 2010
Just like many other developing regions in the world, the Caribbean also notes the largest generation of adolescents ever in history: half of the Caribbean population is under the age of 251. In a recent Caribbean sub regional meeting on the achievements and challenges of ICPD+15, one of the main challenging issues addressed is the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people. There is a general recognition that young people are increasingly engaged in early sexual activity, and at risk of unintended pregnancy and HIV infection. Sexual and reproductive health problems, gender inequality and poverty are closely interconnected social phenomena. It is now widely acknowledged by several nations that the Millenium development Goals (MDGs) will not be achieved if the Programme of Action (PoA) of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) is not implemented2. A widely supported assumption is that adolescent fertility strongly impacts negative on the opportunities of girls and women to advance in the education and employment sectors, and therefore also jeopardizes their children’s future. Several sources identify adolescent fertility as a key determinant in the intergenerational transmission of poverty and reproduction of gender inequality considering the persistent high rate of teenage pregnancies in the region3. UNFPA is committed to help to develop regional policy frameworks and policy positions on issues such as adolescent sexual and reproductive health linking the goals of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) with Millennium Development Goal implementation, monitoring and reporting.
Guidelines UNFPA: Putting young people into MDGs
In recent regional meetings several calls were made for the development of a constructive and holistic approach and development of social protection policy to ensure young people’s access to education, employment and participation. In this regard, UNFPA developed a document on how to include youth in the discussion on poverty reduction strategies. According to Richard
1 Sergeant, H. Reproductive Health and Rights, Report at Caribbean Sub regional meeting on the implementation of ICPD, August 2009, Barbados
2 Review and Appraisal of the implementation of the Cairo program of action in the Caribbean, 2009-2015, UNFPA, ECLAC, September 2009
3 Sergeant, H. Reproductive Health and Rights, Report at Caribbean Sub regional meeting on the implementation of ICPD, August 2009, Barbados
Curtain (2004) there is some degree of focus on youth in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP’s), however often this is done in a piecemeal way which limits their scale and potential impact4. Millennium Development Goals as well as other key international agreements such as the Program of Action of ICPD1994 and recently the World Youth Conference 2010, and related indicators are important instruments to provide evidence for the level of progress that is achieved in the situation of youth.5 In all of these agreements a human rights-based perspective is applied as the guide for a moral and legal framework by which all key stakeholders, both government and non government, on national and international level can be held accountable.
A rights perspective provides a greater focus on the root causes of problems by highlighting the structural and ideological barriers to realizing identified rights.
The purpose of this study is:
a. To conduct a comprehensive compilation of reports from key governmental and NGOs on key areas linked to the objectives of the study
b. To assess which national policies and programs address the issue of adolescent fertility and inter-generational transmission of poverty
c. To engage key national stakeholders in assessing the extent to which Adolescent Fertility and Poverty (including inter-generational transmission of poverty) is adequately addressed in existing policies and programmes
d. To identify the gaps and make practical recommendations to the government on how to address gaps and how to integrate the issue of Adolescent Fertility and poverty in Poverty reduction strategies, policies, development plans and programmes6.
Data collection methods
This study employed different data collection methods: quantitative and qualitative, and use of both primary and secondary data sources, while the study was conducted through several phases.
4 Curtain, Richard, 2004, The case for Investing in Young People as part of a National Poverty Reduction Strategy, Paper Commissioned by the United Nations Population Fund, New York, pp.12.
5 See also: Putting Young People into National Poverty Reduction Strategies: a guide to statistics on young people in poverty (no date), UNFPA
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
First Phase: Compilation of assessment report on key areas related to adolescent fertility and poverty
1. Desk review: included studies, policy documents, reports of implemented programs of government and non government organizations, international policy guidelines (UNFPA). To develop a theoretical frame of reference for analysis of available data, the study started with a review of theoretical perspectives on the relation between adolescent fertility and (intergenerational) poverty, in particular looking at availability of empirical evidence collected in comparable contexts as Suriname. Apart from literature study on issues of youth’s sexual reproductive health, poverty and fertility, mainly from international sources, a great deal of desk review was focused on collection of data/information on the situation of adolescents and sexual and reproductive health in Suriname as well as on the responses of stakeholders to the identified priority issues and gaps. In this last regard both (KAPB) study reports as well as evaluation reports of ongoing and implemented programs were studied. To identify policies, several policy documents of government ministries were reviewed, in particular in key areas of youth, gender, sexual and reproductive health and HIV.
2. Feedback meetings with staff of Directorate Youth Affairs and UNFPA
3. In depth interviews with key informants: In depth interviews have been conducted with a wide range of different stakeholders to hear their views and experiences.
However the main focus was on stakeholders involved in public (national) policy, planning and programming, such as:
1. Policymakers in government: representatives, staff of different ministries, in particular the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing and Ministry of Health.
2. Key informants of UN agencies
3. Staff of executed government and NGO programs related to adolescent fertility 4. Focus groups with teen mothers: mainly to identify some of the themes which adolescents
raise as barriers in their efforts to manage their life and cope with the responsibilities of motherhood.
Second phase: Consultation meeting with key informants and experts: preliminary results of desk review were presented to a group of key policymakers and experts to initiate dialogue on gaps in data, policies and programs, barriers in implementation, and strategies for integration of the issue of adolescent fertility and poverty in policies, development plans and programmes.
Third Phase: Consolidation meeting with national stakeholders and awareness raising dialogue with teachers: To enhance follow-up action, findings of final report and recommendations were presented to national stakeholders and government authorities,
especially related to the Ministry of ‘Youth and Sport’ and the Ministry of ‘Education and Community development’ who are officially responsible for the reduction of teen pregnancies7. This meeting was also aimed at the initiation of an awareness raising dialogue with school principals and teachers on the specific issue of ‘Teen mothers in school’ and the need for an integrated approach.
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
2. Theoretical perspectives and empirical findings
Recognizing that the current generation of young people is the largest in history and by sheer numbers and importance, they deserve a central place in efforts to achieve international agreed developmental goals; including MDGs especially as most developing countries have a high proportion of young people in their populations and this youth bulge offers countries a rare chance to make strategic investments to gain a demographic dividend and break the intergenerational cycle of poverty; (Guanajuato Declaration Ministers of Youth and other representatives from the governments participating in the World Youth Conference, Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico from 25 till 27 August 2010)
Facts about relation between early childbearing and poverty
The highest adolescent fertility rates are found in poor countries. National data of 55 countries on adolescent fertility rates differentiated by wealth quintile (Gwatkin et.al. 2004) show that early childbearing is more prevalent among poorer women, regardless of the economic status of the country. In the countries surveyed, the average fertility rate among the poorest women is 148.6, which is twice the rate of women in the richest group: 62.6. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the relation between poverty and adolescent fertility appears to be the strongest:
the poorest women’s fertility rate is nearly five times higher than that of the richest women (see table 1).
Table 1: Adolescent Fertility Rates by Wealth Quintile and Region (per 1000)
Region No. of
countries
Regional average
Poorest quintile
Richest quintile
Poor/rich difference
East Asia 4 46.0 76.5 15.8 60.8
Europe/Central Asia
4 52.7 73.0 31.3 52.7
L. America, Caribbean
9 94.7 172.6 36.9 135.7
Middle East, N.
Africa
3 62.7 111.7 99.0 12.7
South Asia 4 108.8 146.3 56.0 90.3
Sub-Saharan Africa
29 131.9 169.6 79.5 90.0
All countries 55 106.5 148.6 62.6 86.1
Source: Gwatkin et al. (2004). In: Poverty Reduction: Does Reproductive Health Matter?, by Margaret E.
Greene and Thomas Merrick, 2005
Adolescent fertility rate and poverty
In international policy documents and public statements of key policymakers the relation between youth problems and intergenerational poverty is often addressed.
In monitoring the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) the adolescent fertility rate is used as an important poverty indicator, which is argued as follows:
1. First, reducing the number of adolescent mothers will greatly improve maternal health – MDG 5. Adolescent mothers, especially those who are poor, are at higher risk than other age groups of major complications from childbirth. The sources of the greater health risk stem from two sources: being poor and being an adolescent. Pregnancy and childbirth expose women to serious risks of adverse events if they are in poor health. These risks are further increased for adolescent mothers from poor households. These complications include preterm labor, obstructed labor and permanent damage to reproductive organs.
2. Second, policies to encourage a lower number of births to adolescent mothers will reduce infant mortality and under 5 child mortality (MDG 4) and also child malnutrition (MDG 1) because adolescent mothers have higher rates of infant mortality.
Not all teen mothers experience negative impact from early childbearing8. Several studies show that the negative impact of early childbearing is closely linked to socio economic conditions.
Many of the negative impacts of early childbearing are especially related to teen mothers who come from disadvantaged/poor households9. While many researchers have demonstrated the effects of poverty on early childbearing, fewer have produced evidence for the reverse, in this case whether early childbearing is a key determinant of household poverty. Further research is needed to clarify these links.
According to Greene and Merrick10, simple, clear-cut causality between reproductive health and poverty reduction is very difficult to demonstrate. From their point of view, microanalysis is required to analyze these complex, context-specific household level relationships. The most reliable evidence of impact of mother’s pregnancy or birth-related illness on her children’s educational and health situation, should be measure through the collection of longitudinal data on household members (in particular on mother and her children).
Despite the difficulty of providing hard data, Green and Merrick provided sufficient evidence for the hypothesis that ‘poor reproductive health (early childbearing, maternal mortality/morbidity, and unintended/mistimed pregnancy) have negative effects on overall health, and, under certain circumstances, on education and household well-being’11. In summary, Green and Merrick described the effects as follows:
8See Gonçalves, Helen et.al. (2010) 'Contraceptive medicalisation, fear of infertility and teenage pregnancy in Brazil', In: Culture, Health & Sexuality. See also: Frank E. Furstenberg Jr (2003) Teenage childbearing as a public issue and private concern.. In: Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 29 (2003), pp. 23-39
9 Furstenberg Jr. Frank.E. Teenage childbearing as a public issue and private concern (2003). In: Annual Review of Sociology. Vol. 29, pp. 23-39
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
Overall Health: Early pregnancy and childbearing have a negative effect on the overall health of young women and their children. In poor countries, adolescent mothers are twice as likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes as older mothers, due to lower access to prenatal and delivery care. Children of young mothers are more likely to die at birth or shortly after birth, or born prematurely and at low birth weights.
Education: Early childbearing significantly reduces a young woman’s ability to obtain an education, considering the wide spread policy to expulse pregnant girls from school. Re entering school after delivery is often very difficult due to both stigma and challenges of combining school with motherhood. Early childbearing not only disrupts school, but also girls’
connections to mentoring adults and peers who could provide referrals or links to relevant information and institutions.
Household Well-Being: While there is little research on the effects of early childbearing on household well-being, most very young mothers work in the informal sector, perform unpaid economic activity in the home, or serve as unpaid domestic laborers. Research suggests that in poor households early childbearing is associated with poor living conditions, lower monthly earnings, and decreased child nutrition12.
One of the few studies that provided evidence for the causal effects of teenage motherhood on children’s socio-economic outcome, thus transmission of intergenerational disadvantage, has been conducted in Europe by Mar´ıa Navarro Paniagua and Ian Walker13. They looked at the effects of being born to a teenage mother on the probability of children dropping out of school soon after compulsory education and on the probability of daughters becoming teenage mothers themselves. The results showed that:
1. The probability of not continuing school after compulsory education is 3.1% higher for children born to a teenage mother compared to a child born to a mother whose first birth was at the age of 20-25.
2. The daughters of teenage mothers are 4.2% more likely to give birth as teenagers themselves.
Apart from the specific discussion on the relation between adolescent fertility and poverty, early childbearing have been also strongly associated with other factors, among others:
1. Existence of cultural norms where fertility is highly valued and families encourage and supports early childbearing (especially in rural, traditional communities)
2. Lack of alternative sources, such as a educational and job opportunities, for young women to achieve social status, and affirm values of women hood
3. Lack of knowledge of contraceptives or access to quality contraceptive services and commodities
4. Restrictive attitude of adults, especially negative attitudes towards early sexual activity of youngsters, resistance against sexual education in homes and schools, as well as lack of skills to talk with young people about sex.
12 Margaret E. Greene and Thomas Merrick (2005). Poverty Reduction: Does Reproductive Health Matter?
13 Mar´ıa Navarro Paniagua∗ and Ian Walker (2008). The Impact of Teenage Motherhood on the Education and Fertility Decisions of Their Children: Evidence for Europe. Lancaster University Management School, Lancaster.
UK
3. Situation analysis Suriname
3.1 Demographic profile of Suriname population, including youth
Table 2: Demographic profile. Medium variant
Indicator Population (thousands) Male population (thousands) Female population (thousands)
Population sex ratio (males per 100 females) Percentage aged 0-4 (%)
Percentage aged 5-14 (%) Percentage aged 15-24 (%) Percentage aged 60 or over (%) Percentage of women aged 15-49 (%) Median age (years)
Population density (population per sq. km)
Source: Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision
Suriname belongs to the group of population is younger than 25 years.
significant changes in the composition of the population.
reproductive age categories, 15 Surinamese population. In 2008, t
estimated at 18% of the Surinamese population and totals group is almost equal.
Figure 1: Population size youngsters, aged 10
Source: General Bureau of Statistics, 2009 40000
45000 50000
2006 48081
45694 43562
10
ituation analysis Suriname
Demographic profile of Suriname population, including youth in Suriname.
Demographic profile. Medium variant 2000-2010
2000 2005 2010
467 500
236 251
231 249
Population sex ratio (males per 100 females) 102.2 100.8 100.4
10.8 10.5
19.8 19.3 19.5
18.2 18.5 17.1
8.5 8.8
49 (%) 53.3 53.1 52.6
25.7 26.1 27.6
Population density (population per sq. km) 3 3
: Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision, http://esa.un.org/unpp,
group of countries with a high proportion of youth. Almost half of the population is younger than 25 years. In the last ten years the demographic profile shows no significant changes in the composition of the population. The share of women in the ategories, 15-49 years, remained relatively stable around 53% of the
In 2008, the size of the population group of youth, 15
% of the Surinamese population and totals 90.712. The male-female ratio in this
: Population size youngsters, aged 10-24 years, 2006-2008
of Statistics, 2009
2007 2008
48453 48962
46014 46471
43562 43838 44241
10-14yrs 15-19yrs 20-24yrs
Suriname.
2010 524 263 262 100.4
9.1 19.5 17.1 9.3 52.6 27.6 3
: Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat,
ith a high proportion of youth. Almost half of the In the last ten years the demographic profile shows no share of women in the 49 years, remained relatively stable around 53% of the he size of the population group of youth, 15-24 years, is female ratio in this
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
3.2 Adolescent Fertility
Since the mid 50ties the total fertility rate in the Caribbean, and
continuous decline. In the past 30 years, the fertility rate dropped from 3.6 in 1980 to
2004 (Census 2004). Differences in fertility rates are influenced by educational level of women and living area. Fertility rates are
rural districts and interior (Census 2004).
Figure 2: Total fertility rates in Suriname for the years 1980
Source: CBB, publication, ‘Demographic
General Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Statistical Yearbook 2008
Table 3: Age specific fertility rate, general fertility rate (GFR), total fertility rate (TFR) and gross reproduct rate (GRR), 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995
Age group 1980 1985 15-19 72.1 80.8
20-24 245.0 199.1
25-29 170.2 202.9
30-34 161.9 127.3
35-39 50.2 66.9 40-44 15.5 13.4
45-49 1.8 -
GFR 115.9 120.4 TFR 3.6 3.4 GRR 1.7 1.7
Source: Central Civil registration department, 1999, General Bureau of yearbook 2008
Compared with base year 1980, all age groups experienced overall fertility decline. In the age groups with the largest share, 20
substantially with respectively 47%, 28% and 45%. However, in the youngest age group, 15
3.6 3.4
2.6
0 1 2 3 4
1980 1985 1990
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
Since the mid 50ties the total fertility rate in the Caribbean, and also in Suriname, show decline. In the past 30 years, the fertility rate dropped from 3.6 in 1980 to
Differences in fertility rates are influenced by educational level of women and living area. Fertility rates are relatively higher among low educated women, living in the rural districts and interior (Census 2004).
Total fertility rates in Suriname for the years 1980-2007
Demographic data 2001-2002’, 2004, General Bureau of Statistics (ABS), census 2004 of Statistics (ABS), Statistical Yearbook 2008
Age specific fertility rate, general fertility rate (GFR), total fertility rate (TFR) and gross reproduct
1990 1995 2004 2005 2006
71.0 72.1 65.86 64.19 64.30 147.1 151.4 117.78 116.34 130.02 137.3 121.3 119.83 106.50 113.71 95.6 70.5 84.52 82.48 85.45 47.3 43.5 46.23 46.16 48.29 13.6 13.1 13.74 12.04 14.01 2.5 3.2 0.84 1.75 3.27 91.1 81.4 69.23 66.60 70.86 2.6 2.4 2.24 2.15 2.30 1.3 1.2 1.10 1.04 1.13
Source: Central Civil registration department, 1999, General Bureau of Statistics (ABS), *census 2004, Statistical
Compared with base year 1980, all age groups experienced overall fertility decline. In the age groups with the largest share, 20-24 yrs., 25-29 yrs. and 30-34 yrs, fertility dropped substantially with respectively 47%, 28% and 45%. However, in the youngest age group, 15
2.4 2.2 2.24 2.15 2.3 2.39
1995 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007
Total fertility rate
Total fertility rate
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
also in Suriname, shows a decline. In the past 30 years, the fertility rate dropped from 3.6 in 1980 to 2.24 in Differences in fertility rates are influenced by educational level of women relatively higher among low educated women, living in the
2004, General Bureau of Statistics (ABS), census 2004.
Age specific fertility rate, general fertility rate (GFR), total fertility rate (TFR) and gross reproduction
2007 64.30 68.41 130.02 130.75 113.71 121.94 85.45 88.83 48.29 51.97 14.01 14.87 3.27 0.83 70.86 73.57
2.30 2.39 1.13 1.19
Statistics (ABS), *census 2004, Statistical
Compared with base year 1980, all age groups experienced overall fertility decline. In the age 34 yrs, fertility dropped substantially with respectively 47%, 28% and 45%. However, in the youngest age group, 15-19,
2.39
2007
over a period of more than 25 years, the decline was only 5%. This trend indicates that even when general fertility shows a significant decline, fertility among teenagers remained persistent high.
Adolescent birth rate
The age-specific fertility rate for women aged 15-19 is also defined as the adolescent birth rate.
It measures the annual number of births to women 15 to 19 years of age per 1,000 women in that age group. It represents the risk of childbearing among adolescent women 15 to 19 years of age.
Figure 3: Adolescent Birth rate in Suriname, 1980 -2007
Source: Health Related MDGs – Update-2009, MOH, juni 2009
The adolescent birth rate is generally computed as a ratio. The numerator is the number of live births to women 15 to 19 years of age, and the denominator an estimate of exposure to childbearing by women 15 to 19 years of age. The numerator and the denominator are calculated differently for civil registration, survey and census data. This explains difference in adolescent’s birth rate in 2004. *2004 is derived from census data, while the other rate is based on data collected by civil registration.
72.172.1
72.172.1 80.880.880.880.8 71 71 71
71 72.172.172.172.1 69.869.869.869.8 65.8665.86 64.1965.8665.86 64.1964.1964.19 64.364.364.364.3 68.4168.4168.4168.41
0 00 0 2020 2020 4040 4040 6060 6060 8080 8080 100100100 100
1980 19801980
1980 1985198519851985 1990199019901990 1995199519951995 2004*2004*2004* 20042004* 200420042004 2005200520052005 2006200620062006 2007200720072007 151515
15---19-191919
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
Suriname has one of the highest adolescent rates in the Caribbean
where Suriname is listed as second in the top three countries with highest rates.
Table 4: Average adolescent birth rate in some countries
Country A
Guyana Suriname Jamaica Barbados
Trinidad and Tobago USA
United Kingdom Netherlands
Source: www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/mdgs/5_4_adolescent_birth_rate.pdf
Figure 4: Total number of live births, 1995
Source: CBB publication, ‘Demographic data 2001
General Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Statistical Yearbook 2008
The annual absolute number of live births in Suriname fluctuates between 9.000 and 10.000 births.
1994 1995 1996 1997 Birth 8418 8717 9393 10794
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
Suriname has one of the highest adolescent rates in the Caribbean, considering table below where Suriname is listed as second in the top three countries with highest
irth rate in some countries, 2000 – 2007
Average adolescent birth rate
90 63 58 51 35 41 26 4
Source: www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/mdgs/5_4_adolescent_birth_rate.pdf
Total number of live births, 1995-2007
Source: CBB publication, ‘Demographic data 2001-2002’, 2004 Demographic data Suriname 2005, 2006 of Statistics (ABS), Statistical Yearbook 2008
number of live births in Suriname fluctuates between 9.000 and 10.000
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 10794 10221 10144 9804 9717 10188 9450 9062 8657
Birth
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
, considering table below where Suriname is listed as second in the top three countries with highest adolescent birth
Demographic data Suriname 2005, 2006-2007,
number of live births in Suriname fluctuates between 9.000 and 10.000
2005 2006 2007 8657 9311 9769
National annual live births from teen mothers
Table 5: Proportion of national annual live births from teen mothers, 2000-2007
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
% Births from teen- mothers
15.8 17.3 17.0 15.9 16.8 16 15 15
Source: General Bureau of Statistics, Statistical Yearbook 2000, 2007
In the past years, the proportion of annual live births in Suriname from teen mothers has fluctuated between 15% and 17%, and in absolute terms between approximately 1500 and 1600 births. If the births from mothers younger than 15 years are included, the proportion increases slightly with an average of 0.7%.The number of pregnancies by mothers younger than 15 years is almost exclusively reported for people living in the interior.
Figure 5: Number of annual live births of mothers, aged < 19 years, 1990 – 2007
Source: General Bureau of Statistics, statistical yearbook 2000
Since 2002 there has been a slight decrease in live births of adolescent mothers. The annual number went down from 1.665 in 2002 to 1.368 in 2005, and slightly went up again to 1.384 in 2006 and 1.485 in 2007.
53 43
288 430
133 67 55 81 54 52 70 64 82 61 67 64 65
1581 1363
14131424
1335 13711506 1777
1472 14951609 1665
1449 14651368 13841485
0 500 1000 1500 2000
<15 yrs 15-19 yrs
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
Table 6: Women who gave birth, by age group, 2005-2007
Age group 2005 2006 2007
<15 0.77 0.69 0.67
15-19 15.80 14.85 15.20
20-24 28.60 29.90 28.84
25-29 24.73 24.2 25.47
30-34 18.23 17.66 17.58
35-39 9.39 9.27 9.64
40-44 2.19 2.42 2.49
>44 0.28 0.49 0.12
Absolute 8.657 9.311 9.769
Mean Age 26.62 26.69 26.69
Median age 25.98 25.92 26.04
The largest share is from young mothers, aged 20-24 years. In 2007 they accounted for 29% of all annual live births, which hardly differs from previous years.
Table 7: Women delivering their first live birth by age group, 2005-2007
Age group 2005 2006 2007
<15 2.07 1.84 1.73
15-19 31.31 30.21 31.68
20-24 36.37 38.51 36.81
25-29 17.72 19.32 19.11
30-34 17.72 19.32 19.11
35-39 3.25 2.51 2.57
40-44 0.45 0.48 0.38
>44 0.10 0.12 0.00
Absolute 3.143 3.313 3.700
Mean Age 23.11 22.99 22.95
Source: 2007 (General Bureau of Statistics, report: demographic data 2000-2008)
About one third of the annual births in the age groups 15-19 and 20-24 years, is from mothers delivering their first live birth. It is not surprising that the vast majority of these new mothers is young, under the age of 25 years. Data from 2007 show that of the total annual number of 3.700 first births, about 32% was from mothers, aged 15-19 years.
3.3. Socio economic and cultural characteristics of young mothers Disparities in adolescent fertility
The national fertility rates presents a general picture in which the disparities between population groups are not considered. If fertility data are further differentiated by age, socioeconomic status, living area and ethnicity, significant differences are revealed.
In the first and only national contraceptive prevalence survey in 1992, it already showed that Maroons and Creoles were more likely to have their first pregnancy earlier than Javanese and Hindustanis (Jagdeo 1992).
The study ‘Youth and their health’ (ProHealth/MOH, 2008) reveals high geographical and ethnic disparities in teenage pregnancies. Prevalence varied from 7% in Nickerie, to 21% in Latour (a low income community in Paramaribo), to 35% in Brokopondo, a district in the interior.
A large proportion of all reported teen pregnancies and teen motherhood in the researched areas was of girls from Maroon descent. Due to a rapid urbanization of Maroons from the interior to Paramaribo, since the mid 1980’s, concentrations of Maroon families were established in mainly low income communities in Paramaribo with relatively low access to basic services. A major part of adolescents, living in these ‘urban slums’ can be considered vulnerable, while unintended teen pregnancy is one of the major problems among these youth.14 (J.Terborg et.al, 2008)
Young motherhood, wealth quintile and ethnic background: Secondary analysis MICS
To generate specific information on basic characteristics of young mothers, aged 15-24 years on national level, a secondary analysis was conducted by the Center for People’s Development (CPD) of the available database of the ‘Multi Cluster Survey (MICS) 2009 national survey among a sample of 5.283 women, aged 15-49 years. This database was made available by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing.
This secondary analysis is based on the ‘women’s questionnaire’ that was administered in each household to all women in the age group 15-49 years, and enables analysis of marital status and some sexual and reproductive health variables. Apart from the data related to this questionnaire, the available dataset also included data collected through a general household questionnaire, in particular data on basic socioeconomic characteristics of the household, among others ethnicity of the head and wealth status. These data were used as proxy to estimate the ethnic background and wealth status of young mothers. Although it is most likely that the female household member interviewed were of the same ethnic group as the head of the household, this variable should be treated as a proxy.
Although the primary focus is on adolescent mothers, for a more comprehensive view the group of young mothers, aged 20-24 years, was included in the analysis.
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
Characteristics related to ethnic background of young mothers, aged 15-24 years
The following tables show the results of the analysis of a subpopulation of MICS, namely mothers aged 15-24 years. This subpopulation was extracted from the related database and established as a separate database, which was used for data processing and analysis. As mentioned earlier, in the MICS survey ethnic descent from respondents was not collected but proxies were used, in particular ‘mother tongue’ and ‘ethnic group’ of head of household.
Table 8: Young mothers, aged 15-24 years, by mother tongue of head household
Mother tongue of head Frequency Percent
Dutch 95 20.3
Sranan Tongo 33 7.1
Sarnami hindi 81 17.3
Javanese 48 10.3
Indigenous language 12 2.6
Marroon language 174 37.3
Other Language 22 4.7
Don't know 2 .4
Total 467 100.0
Source: CPD based on MICS 2006, GBS, Min PLOS & Min Sozavo, 2009
Table 9: Women aged 15-19 and aged 20-24, by ethnic group of head household
Etnic group HH 15-19 yrs 20-24yrs Total
Indigenous 36.4% 63.6% 7.1
Maroon 31.2% 68.8% 39.8
Creole 9.8% 90.2% 13.1
Hindostani 14.1% 85.9% 19.7
Javanese 14.0% 86.0% 12.2
Mixed 12.9% 87.1% 6.6
Other .0% 100.0%
Total 104 363 467
Total 22.3% 77.7% 100.0%
Source: CPD based on MICS 2006, GBS, Min PLOS & Min Sozavo, 2009
Considering the results of both table 8 and table 9, we can assume that:
1. The proportion of young mothers, aged 15-24 years, is the highest in households where the head of the household is of Maroon descent or speaks a Maroon language. Second in line are households with a Hindostani head and where Sarnami Hindi is spoken.
2. Teen mothers, aged 15-19 years, were mainly found in households where ethnic group of head of household is Indigenous or Maroon respectively 36% and 31%. The proportion of teen mothers in household with Hindostani and Javanese head is more or less equal: 14%.
Teen mothers, living in a household with a Creole head accounted for 10%.
Table 10: Young mothers, aged 15-24 years, by ethnic group, head household and district
Ethnicity District
Parama - ribo
Wanica Nickeri e
Coronie Sara- macca
Comme - wijne
Maro- wijne
Para Broko- pondo
Sipali- wini
Total
Indigenous 21.2% 6.1% 3.0% .0% .0% 6.1% 15.2% 24.2% .0% 24.2% 100.0
% Maroon 28.5% 11.3% .0% .0% .0% .5% 7.5% 4.8% 9.1% 38.2% 100.0
% Creole 77.0% 9.8% .0% .0% 4.9% 6.6% .0% 1.6% .0% .0% 100.0
% Hindostani 28.3% 34.8% 14.1% .0% 15.2% 7.6% .0% .0% .0% .0% 100.0
% Javanese 24.6% 22.8% 3.5% 8.8% 5.3% 24.6% 5.3% 5.3% .0% .0% 100.0
%
Mixed 54.8% 25.8% .0% .0% .0% .0% 9.7% 9.7% .0% .0% 100.0
%
Other 100.0
%
.0% .0% .0% .0% .0% .0% .0% .0% .0% 100.0
%
168 83 17 5 21 28 25 24 17 79 467
36.0% 17.8% 3.6% 1.1% 4.5% 6.0% 5.4% 5.1% 3.6% 16.9% 100.0
% Source: CPD based on MICS 2006, GBS, Min PLOS & Min Sozavo, 2009
A significant part of the young mothers identified in households with heads of Maroon and Indigenous decent, lives in the interior. The major part of young mothers who are part of a household headed by a person from Creole, Hindostani and Javanese descent, lives in the districts Paramaribo and Wanica.
Characteristics related to wealth status of young mothers, aged 15-24 years
To assess the relation between adolescent fertility and poverty, the only available indicator in MICS is ‘wealth of household'. According to MICS: “The wealth index is assumed to capture the underlying long-term wealth through information on the household assets and is intended to produce a ranking of households by wealth from poorest to riches. The wealth index does not provide information on absolute poverty, current income or expenditure levels, and the wealth scores calculated are applicable for only the particular data set they are based on” (MICS 2009).
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
Table 11: Young mothers, aged 15-24 years, by wealth quintile household
Wealth quintile household
Mothers 15-24 years Mothers 15- 49 years
Frequency Percent Percent
Poorest 165 35.3 17
Second 102 21.8 19.4
Middle 74 15.8 20.6
Fourth 68 14.6 21.2
Richest 58 12.4 21.8
Total 467 100.0 100
Source: CPD based on MICS 2006, GBS, Min PLOS & Min Sozavo, 2009
If the specific group of young mothers, aged 15-24 years, are compared with all mothers aged 15-49 years surveyed in MICS, it appears that young mothers are more likely to live in poor households than older mothers. Table 9 shows that 35 percent of the young mothers belong to the poorest households. This share is twice the proportion of all women, aged 15-49 yrs, in this poorest quintile.
Table 12: Young mothers, aged 15-24 years, by wealth index quintiles and ethnic group of HH
Ethnic group of HH
Poores t
Second Middle Fourth
Richest Total
General 17 19.4 20.6 21.2 21.8 100.0
Indigenous 60.6 15.2 12.1 9.1 3.0 100.0
Maroon 60.2 20.4 8.1 7.5 3.8 100.0
Creole 19.7 21.3 19.7 21.3 18.0 100.0
Hindostani 14.1 31.5 23.9 14.1 16.3 100.0
Javanese 7.0 22.8 17.5 22.8 29.8 100.0
Mixed 9.7 9.7 32.3 29.0 19.4 100.0
Other .0 50.0 50.0 .0 .0 100.0
165 102 74 68 58 467
35.3% 21.8% 15.8% 14.6% 12.4% 100.0%
Source: CPD based on MICS 2006, GBS, Min PLOS & Min Sozavo, 2009
In the next table, where young mothers are differentiated by age and wealth status of the household, it can be concluded that the younger the mother, the largest the proportion that lives in poor household (poorest and second quintiles). The average share of mothers, aged 15- 19 years, that lives in the poorest household is 42%, while the share of mothers, aged 20-24 years, living in poorest households is 34%.
Table 13: Young mothers by age and by wealth quintile household
Wealth quintiles
Age Poorest Second Middle Fourth Richest Total
15 years 28.6 57.1 14.3 .0 .0 100.0
16 years 46.2 30.8 15.4 .0 7.7 100.0
17 years 55.0 25.0 .0 20.0 .0 100.0
18 years 50.0 15.4 19.2 7.7 7.7 100.0
19 years 34.2 31.6 21.1 5.3 7.9 100.0
20 years 40.0 20.0 7.7 20.0 12.3 100.0
21 years 35.4 16.9 15.4 20.0 12.3 100.0
22 years 35.2 14.1 23.9 14.1 12.7 100.0
23 years 23.2 26.8 18.3 15.9 15.9 100.0
24 years 33.8 21.3 13.8 13.8 17.5 100.0
Total 165 102 74 68 58 467
Total % 35.3% 21.8% 15.8% 14.6% 12.4% 100.0%
Source: CPD based on MICS 2006, GBS, Min PLOS & Min Sozavo, 2009
These findings, based on secondary analysis of MICS data, confirm the earlier described relation between poverty and adolescent fertility, found in many international studies. It can be concluded that also in Suriname early childbearing among adolescent girls is disproportionately higher among the most disadvantaged women: those who are poor, who live in rural areas, and who belong to Indigenous and Maroon groups. These patterns are more or less similar to what has been found in other parts of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Prevalence of teen fathers
In accordance with study reports from other countries, also in Suriname one of the conclusions is that teenage parents are almost all teenage mothers. In a study in 5 selected communities among the age group 15-19 years, 17% of the studied girls identified themselves as mother, while among boys, about 1% reported fatherhood. In the age group 20-24, the share of males reporting being a father was 17% against 54% women ( MOH/ProHealth, 2008). Similar patterns were found in a recently conducted survey in five selected communities in Paramaribo, Wanica and Nickerie among youth, 18-24 (Lobi/CPD 2011). Figure below shows that in age group 18-20, males reporting children are very low.
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
Figure 6: Young parents by age and by sex, 2011
Source: St. Lobi, CPD, 2011
The overall conclusion is that there are hardly teenage
ascribed to the traditional gender pattern in which girls tend to date older boys/men, who have the potential to fulfill the role of the breadwinner.
(2006), which show that 19.5% of the
24, currently married or in union in 2006 had a husband 10 years older or more.
3.4 Young wives
In the current reviewed Suriname marriage legislation, “Revision of the Marriage Act 1973”, (2003) the minimum age for marriage is 15 for females and 17 for males, which still reflects gender inequality. Till 2003, a double marriage legislation existed, with a separate ‘Asian marriage legislation’, in which minimum marriage age for men and women was respectively 15 years and 13 years. Since the establishment of one national marriage law, the number of marriages within the age group 15
girls, aged 15-19. Most marriages (one third) take place within the age group 20
Table 14: Young wives, by age group at marriage 2005
Age group/Year 2005
15-19 15.2
20-24 31.0
25-29 18.4
30-34 12.0
35-39 9.0
40-44 5.8
45-49 4.1
50+ 8.7
Source: General Bureau of Statistics, report: demographic data 2000 0
10 20 30
18 19
4.3 2.5
23.1 21.4
teenfather
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
Young parents by age and by sex, 2011 in 5 communities
The overall conclusion is that there are hardly teenage/young fathers. This result can be ascribed to the traditional gender pattern in which girls tend to date older boys/men, who have the potential to fulfill the role of the breadwinner. These data are further confirmed by MICS , which show that 19.5% of the girls, aged 15-19 years and 22.6% of the women aged 20 24, currently married or in union in 2006 had a husband 10 years older or more.
Suriname marriage legislation, “Revision of the Marriage Act 1973”, (2003) the minimum age for marriage is 15 for females and 17 for males, which still reflects gender inequality. Till 2003, a double marriage legislation existed, with a separate ‘Asian rriage legislation’, in which minimum marriage age for men and women was respectively 15 years and 13 years. Since the establishment of one national marriage law, the number of marriages within the age group 15-19 has dropped. Of all marriages in 2007, abo
19. Most marriages (one third) take place within the age group 20
y age group at marriage 2005-2007
2006 2007
13.2 12.3
31.1 31.8
18.9 20.4
12.6 11.8
9.8 8.6
6.5 5.6
3.5 4.3
7.9 9.6
Source: General Bureau of Statistics, report: demographic data 2000-2008 20
3.5 21.4
27.7
teenfather teenmother
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
fathers. This result can be ascribed to the traditional gender pattern in which girls tend to date older boys/men, who have These data are further confirmed by MICS 19 years and 22.6% of the women aged 20- 24, currently married or in union in 2006 had a husband 10 years older or more.
Suriname marriage legislation, “Revision of the Marriage Act 1973”, (2003) the minimum age for marriage is 15 for females and 17 for males, which still reflects gender inequality. Till 2003, a double marriage legislation existed, with a separate ‘Asian rriage legislation’, in which minimum marriage age for men and women was respectively 15 years and 13 years. Since the establishment of one national marriage law, the number of 19 has dropped. Of all marriages in 2007, about 12% was of 19. Most marriages (one third) take place within the age group 20-24.
Figure 7: Young wives, by age group at
Source: CBB, 2007
The data found in the last MICS
the CBB (2007) on the share of married women, aged 15 nationwide, approximately 11% of
highest in households where the mother tongue is Javanese (19.2%) or for women living in the rural interior districts (20.0%).
Fortunately the MICS data are much more detailed on the characteristics of y Almost one in four women (22.5%)
married young women concentrated in the interior and rural districts of Suriname. In the rural interior districts more than one out of 10 women in the rural
union before age 15 and more than half was married or in union before age 18.
Other striking findings were that:
• 19.5% of the girls, aged 15
married or in union in 2006 had a husband
• Women who married at younger ages were more likely to believe that it is sometimes acceptable for a husband to beat his wife and were more likely to experience domestic violence themselves.
The married teen mother often remains invisible, as most people tend to perceive her as an adult as soon as she entered legal marriage.
not included in the discussion on teen pregnancy and teen motherhood, while narrative 0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35
15-19 20-24 25-29
12.31
31.79
20.36
by age group at marriage, 2007
The data found in the last MICS (2009) are more or less in accordance with data collected by the CBB (2007) on the share of married women, aged 15-19 years. MICS found that,
approximately 11% of women aged 15-19 years were married or in union highest in households where the mother tongue is Javanese (19.2%) or for women living in the
Fortunately the MICS data are much more detailed on the characteristics of y
(22.5%), aged 15-49 years was married before age 18, with most married young women concentrated in the interior and rural districts of Suriname. In the rural more than one out of 10 women in the rural interior districts was married or in union before age 15 and more than half was married or in union before age 18.
Other striking findings were that:
19.5% of the girls, aged 15-19 years and 22.6% of the women aged 20 in 2006 had a husband 10 years older or more.
who married at younger ages were more likely to believe that it is sometimes acceptable for a husband to beat his wife and were more likely to experience domestic
mother often remains invisible, as most people tend to perceive her as an adult as soon as she entered legal marriage. This explains why the married teen mother is often not included in the discussion on teen pregnancy and teen motherhood, while narrative
29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50+
20.36
11.8
8.61
5.55 4.3
9.58
data collected by 19 years. MICS found that, were married or in union, and highest in households where the mother tongue is Javanese (19.2%) or for women living in the
Fortunately the MICS data are much more detailed on the characteristics of young wives.
was married before age 18, with most married young women concentrated in the interior and rural districts of Suriname. In the rural interior districts was married or in union before age 15 and more than half was married or in union before age 18.
19 years and 22.6% of the women aged 20-24, currently
who married at younger ages were more likely to believe that it is sometimes acceptable for a husband to beat his wife and were more likely to experience domestic
mother often remains invisible, as most people tend to perceive her as an This explains why the married teen mother is often not included in the discussion on teen pregnancy and teen motherhood, while narratives from
Adolescent Fertility and Poverty Suriname report, 2011
report on situation of children in Suriname, it is stated: ‘Young married girls are a unique, though often invisible, group. Frequently required to leave school and not permitted to return, obliged to perform heavy amounts of domestic work, under pressure to demonstrate fertility, and responsible for raising children while still children themselves, married girls and child mothers face constrained decision-making and reduced life choices’.
Table 15: Young mothers, aged 15-24 years, by ethnic group of HH, by type of partnerrelation
Ethnic group of Head of
Household
Yes, currently
married
Yes, living with a man
No, not in union
LAT
Indigenous 15.2 36.4 48.5 .0 100.0
Maroon 1.1 43.5 52.7 2.7 100.0
Creool 3.3 42.6 54.1 .0 100.0
Hindostani 67.4 26.1 6.5 .0 100.0
Javanese 38.6 50.9 8.8 1.8 100.0
Mixed 6.5 45.2 48.4 .0 100.0
Other 1 2 1 0 100.0
96 190 175 6 467
20.6% 40.7% 37.5% 1.3% 100.0%
Source: MICS 2006, GBS, Min PLOS & Min Sozavo, 2009
3.5 Access to education and employment
Data from different sources show significant gender disparities in the higher educational level.
In junior secondary the proportion of enrolled females is 12% against 8% males, in senior secondary this trend is continued, with 6% females enrolled against 4% males, and eventually in higher, tertiary education the same pattern can be observed: of the overall 5% students that reach the tertiary level, more than two third are women15. Girls perform better in almost all educational cycles. However, despite their better school performances than boys, they still account for the largest part of the category of youth ‘unemployed and out of school’. Due to the persistent structural gender inequality in the labor market, (young) women have less access to jobs, even if they are higher educated than men’ (Prohealth/MOH, 2008). These data are confirmed by the Census 2004, which shows twice as much males in the formal labor market than females, respectively 65% against 35%.
15 See: Statistical Yearbook 2008, General Bureau for Statistics
In the total employed population, young people, aged 15-24 years, can be considered a marginal group with a share of only 14.5%.
The younger the persons, the lower the share: while workers in the age group 20-24 years account for 10.5% of the employed population, in the age group 15-19 this proportion drops to only 4%. (Census 2004)
A persistent reason for concern in the educational process at all
levels is the high dropout rate. One of the main reasons for girls dropping out of school is unintended pregnancies. The study of ProHealth (2008) showed that, at time of pregnancy, most adolescent mothers were either in primary (43%) or in junior secondary school (54%) and did not graduate due to school dropout. This explains why the vast majority, 87%, of adolescent
mothers left school without a diploma.
In the interior, in particular the East Suriname Area (Marowijne and East Sipalawini) findings of a ‘School Mapping Report’ indicate that school attendance by boys is significantly higher than girls. Of all girls dropping out of school, 61.8% is due to teen marriage or pregnancy (Sitan Child Rights 2011). It is most likely that once pregnant, many adolescent girls remain out of school. As the educational level of most adolescent mothers is relatively low, employment opportunities are very limited. Even when work is available, many girls also have to deal with the problem of finding a reliable sitter for their baby, especially in case of teen mothers who are already single parents.
Teen mothers who re-entered school often faced multiple problems, including the challenge of combining schoolwork with motherhood. In some school communities, despite formal acceptance, teen mothers are often stigmatized by both teachers and co students. Due to their financially weak position, many girls are engaged in transactional sex, putting themselves at risk of a next unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease.
Educational and employment profile of adolescents mothers:
40% is in school and 60% is out of school.
The educational level of the girls in school is relatively low: 14%
primary, 73% junior secondary, 6% senior secondary, 7% other.
The highest educational level of school leavers is: 43% primary, 54%
junior secondary, 3%
senior secondary.
87% of school leavers did not complete the school.
91% does not work.
12% is ‘single teenage mother’, 88% is in a steady relationship, of which 12% is married, 39% lives in
concubinage while 37%
reported a visiting relationship.
(MOH/ProHealth, 2008)