As much pride we may take
in being a country unlike any other, as much comfort we may generate and place
in being part of a country where compassionate Buddhist values overpower all
other factors to bring forth the most caring services for its people, and as proud
as we may be with pace of developments not leaving behind any single person
ignored and castaway; well,.. there may still be very telling instances hiding
in plain sight, just waiting to be stumbled-upon.
Here’s a very concerning
eye opener for one and all.
About 30% of women between
10 and 24 years still give birth at home, 31% of adolescents (people between 10
and 19 years of age) are married before they attain 18 years of age, teenage
pregnancy is still high in numbers in the rural areas.
The stark findings are in
the list of the few initial findings of a deeper study report that will be
brought out by the National Statistics Bureau (NSB) on adolescent and youth
sexual and reproductive health.
From what is revealed, it
can be said that situations are only warming up to unveil more
ordinarily-labeled but largely very grim issues for the nation at large.
For instance, the country
is supposed to have come a long way since the advent of its health system and
awareness in health back in the day. Now health facilities are more accessible,
the technology and methods are very state of the art from what they used to be,
skilled workers such as doctors and health workers are now more skilled and
more educated.
Be that as it all may, the
rather regressive shades in existence is not encouraging or comforting. Same
can be said about the very early marriages adolescents jump into or the teenage
pregnancies numbering on the higher side compared to the more urban areas.
It seems that information
is key and cornerstone in these matters, and its effective propagation would
have played a much required role of precious intervention.
For starters, It was found
that women in the rural areas (between as young as 10 and up to 24) used
contraceptives more than what their urban cousins. But it is medically
established that condoms are just as effective, if not more in preventing STDs
(sexually transmitted diseases) or in preventing pregnancies. And condoms are
freely available courtesy of many health organizations and departments.
Women, especially the
younger lot opted for home deliveries knowing the risks at play, for reasons
that are social and personal while also being of the belief that getting
pregnant at a young age could be criminal.
This is very unlike how an
informed society would be characteristic of. It doesn’t take the requirement of
a medical expert to come and showcase things, as it is sensible knowledge given
the day and age of what fatal risks are at play for both mother and baby.
However in all the
suggestive scenario of doom and gloom, it is also encouraging to note the
bureau’s preliminary findings also show that more than 80% of pregnant young
women frequent health care units more times than they usually would (four times
or more weekly).
Published as Business Bhutan Editorial on January 3, 2015
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