17 Jul 2017

Report raises concerns with teen pregnancy in Samoa

8:38 pm on 17 July 2017

A new report has highlighted concerns with teen pregnancy in Samoa only a week after a young mother wasjailed for infanticide.

Vesi Enele was sentenced to 10 years in prison last week after pleading guilty to trying to flush her newborn down the toilet.

Abortion is only legal in Samoa to preserve the health of the mother.

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Photo: 123rf.com

Our correspondent Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia said the sentence coincided with the Ministry of Women and Social Development releasing the Samoa Family Safety Study.

He said the report highlighted the need for strategies to stop domestic and gender-based violence and to prevent teen pregnancy.

"They recommended in that study/report that to enforce Christian values within families in order for people to avoid, for example, teenage pregnancies," said Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia.

However Mr Autagavaia said upholding strong Christian values could also create higher expectations and put additional pressure on families, particularly women and girls, in relation to pregnancies.

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