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Pitiporn Kam Prachayamongkol

Mr. Abel Cadias
English 10 / 10:06
March 11, 2015
The Causes of Teenage Pregnancy in Thailand
The causes of teenage pregnancy in Thailand are: teenagers do not know how to
protect themselves before having sex; their parents do not give them sex education; and rape.
The purpose of this research report is to find out the causes of teenage pregnancy in Thailand.
The importance of this report is to show how pop culture from different countries affect
lifestyle. While Thailand is a developing country, it also had many causes to make teenage
pregnancy such as Thai teenage follow Western teenagers. Nowadays, the number of teenage
pregnancies in Thailand is ranked first in Asia and second in the world. Many organizations
wanted to decrease the number of teenage pregnancy in Thailand. The pieces of information
found in this research report are based on three sources. First, an article published by
Curations Organization that revealed that 70% of teenage pregnancy is happening with 17-19
years of age. Second, an article published by Education Website explained that the main
cause is lack of parental guidance. Third, News of Bangkok Post reported that a rape crime
committed in Thailand.
Teenage Pregnancy in Thailand
Teenage pregnancy is defined as a teenage girl aged under 19 years become pregnant
in the world. About 16 million women from 15-19 years old gave birth each year which in,
about 11% of all births. The average teenage pregnancy rate in developing country is more
than the developed country because developing countries have more poverty, bad
environment and society and lack of sex education etc. Developing country such as Thailand
has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Asia and the second rate in the world. The poll of
Ywamthai Organization showed that about 70 Thai women out of every 1,000 aged 15-19

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already have child (Ywamthai, 2013). For example, Thairath news presented that one month
ago, there were 10 years old girl who gave birth in Nakhon Panom. Thai teenage pregnancy
was found that had less aged pregnancy because now teenage grew up lastly so they had more
chance to get pregnant. Moreover teenage pregnancy can happen by many reasons such as
lack of sex education, parental guidance and rape.
Lack of Sex Education
First, lack of sex education is important in teenager. Sex education, as defined by
Collins dictionary that Sex education is education in schools on the subject of sexual activity
and sexual relationships. Thai teenage mothers with 54% for every 100,000 girls are under
19. There is no lack of knowledge to suggest teenage pregnancy is a serious issue for
Thailand because have the highest rate in Asia. In the past, Thai women did not have sex
before marriage. Conversely in the present, Thai women are ranked of the highest amount of
giving birth in ASEAN. Nowadays, sex education is an important part of education. An
article published by Magazines poll entitled Adult Favor Sex Education showed that about
77% of adults polled favorites sex education because sex education is taught them to know
about sex. 29% claimed that, sex education program should teach students to save their
virginity before marriage, and 66% said that it should be an individual choice. As the result
showed, Thailand should teach sex education in school to decrease the amount of teenage
pregnancy.
Parental Guidance
Second, lack of parental guidance. Parents avoid to talk about sex with children. An
article published by Kriengsak Jareonwongsak entitled Parent Guidance revealed that in
Thailand. Today we have more violent in teenagers society which related to rape, sex and
unwanted pregnancy. The parents are commonly concerned with their children especially

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during teenage is very dangerous; however, many parents still do not know how they should
start teaching their children about sex. In fact, children cannot learn through or understand
sexuality properly by themselves. If parents do not teach children, the children will learn by
internet, media or friends. Those things motivated children want to know about sex. The main
focus of parents is to teach children to recognize, know the trick of their own sex in the age of
child and should not think that sex is mystery. Next, parents should teach children to know
how to correctly respect the opposite gender. Moreover, parents should teach children how to
protect themselves from sexual harassment especially today, because society is full of danger.
(Zeusevsusls, 2011). Furthermore, parents should support their children to do whatever they
want such as sport, painting, music or etc.
Rape
Third, an article published by Nurse.cmu showed that rape is the most violent manner.
Rape is sex that happened at any time and place not limited only at work, on road, schools, as
well as places that are supported to be safe. Rape can also happen in all of ages especially
teenagers. Rape can cause from someone close to family such as father, stepfather, uncle,
brother or people who have been respected such as teachers as well as friends or neighbors,
(Parkphoom, 2012). The unwanted effect of rape is pregnancy. For example, an article
published by Thairath entitled Five men raped a sixteen years girl reported that on 25
August, Mrs.Noi (alias) was 69 years with Miss.Kai (alias) who was 16 years girl lived in
Uttaradit. They came to police station for Miss.Kais fairness cause that she was raped by her
stepfather, uncles neighbor, grandfather, brothers stepfather and monk when she was 12
years old until now. She was two months pregnant and already left school. As the report,
many professors told that unwanted pregnancy of adolescent was increasing due to the fact
that advancement of science and technology affected change in tradition, culture, society
including the belief of having sex.

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Conclusion
The purpose of this research report was to know the causes of teenage pregnancy in
Thailand. This research reports concluded that the causes of teenage pregnancy in Thailand
are lack of sex education, parental guidance and rape. In fact, teenage pregnancy has many
causes but I gave only three important causes because these causes were ranked accordingly
in many sources. This research report recommends further studies on health effects abortion.
References

Hagan, C. (n.d.). Teenage pregnancy rate lowest in two decades. Retrieved February 27, 2015
from http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/05/teenage-pregnancy-rate-lowest-in-two
?decades/
___________ (2012, January 8). Sex education and the age-old issue of teen pregnancy.
Retrieved 27 February, 2015 from http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Sexeducation-and-the-age-old-issue-of-teen-pregna-30175784.html
Jareonwongsak, Kriengsak. Parental Guidance. Retrieved 30 February, 2015 from
http://www.kriengsak.com/node/1935
___________ (2013, September 4). Adult Favor Sex Education. Retrieved March 5, 2015
from http://www.magazinepoll.com
Donally, L. (2015, February 24). Teenage pregnancy rates, official statistics show. Retrieved
March 7, 2015 from
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/11431487/Teenage-pregnancy-ratesofficial-statistics-show.html

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