Continuing education is the key in Jamaica

Newsl Womens Glob Netw Reprod Rights. 1992 Jan-Mar:(38):2-3.

Abstract

PIP: An evaluation of the Jamaican Women's Center Programme by the Population Council of New York found that 55% of teenage mothers in Jamaica returned to school in Kingston and 73% in the Mandeville branch following their pregnancies and exposure to the program. Only 15% who were not exposed to the program returned to school. The Sister School Workshop Program on Teenage Pregnancy provides knowledge instead of the myth and fantasy given by parents and clergy. Continuing education is particularly important for those with low self-esteem. The Center also provided knowledge about contraception. The findings were that contraceptive use was 89% among program graduates and 81% among nonprogram persons. In addition to the higher % of usage, there were differences in methods used. Center users preferred the IUD and pills, while nonprogram persons favored pills and injections. Subsequent pregnancies were much higher among nonprogram persons at 39%, while for program participants 15% at Kingston and 8% from the Mandeville Center had subsequent pregnancies within 3 years. The creation of the Jamaican Women's Center in 1978 has also promoted continuing education during pregnancy. Assistance is also provided to those reentering the school system after giving birth. The financial cost has been reasonable at J$3500 program year/woman and nursery facility costs at J$664/child/year. Other services to former students include counseling and school visits and occasionally financial aid amounts J$176/woman/year. Rural outreach averages J$336/woman/year. The identifiable weakness was in preparation of these girls for employment. It is suggested that additional efforts be made to provide wider and more marketable skills to meet local needs. There is also a need to provide linkage with other skills training programs and small business groups in order to expand labor force opportunities for these women.

MeSH terms

  • Ambulatory Care Facilities
  • Americas
  • Caribbean Region
  • Contraception
  • Contraception Behavior*
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis*
  • Counseling*
  • Demography
  • Developing Countries
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Educational Status*
  • Employment*
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Family Planning Services
  • Fertility
  • Health Planning
  • Jamaica
  • North America
  • Organization and Administration
  • Population
  • Population Dynamics
  • Pregnancy in Adolescence*
  • Program Evaluation*
  • Research
  • Research Design*
  • Sex Education*
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Social Class
  • Socioeconomic Factors