Health

Teen Pregnancy of Girls 15-19 on the Decline in Thailand

Teen pregnancy continues to be a major concern for many societies around the world, sadly Thailand is one of them. Many factors have been blamed, including insufficient sex education in schools, limited access to reproductive health services, adolescent sexual curiosity, and, in the worst cases, falling victim to sexual violence or forced sex.

Women who engage in premarital sex are also stigmatized by cultural norms.

According to the most recent UNFPA Thailand data, 56,074 pregnancies in girls aged 15-19 were recorded in 2020, accounting for 10% of all pregnancies in that year. There were also 1,783 pregnancies in girls aged 10 to 14, the majority of whom were victims of sexual assault.

According to UNFPA Thailand, 25% of Thai teenage mothers did not give birth in their home provinces. As a result, locating the majority of teen mothers in the country, whether in urban or rural areas, is somewhat difficult.

teen pregnancy

Overall, teen pregnancy is declining in Thailand, owing primarily to the implementation of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act in 2016, which also resulted in a collaborative framework of six related ministries to combat teen pregnancies.

Education, Higher Education, Public Health, Interior, Labor, and Social Development and Human Security are the six ministries. The underlying societal issues, on the other hand, are far more complicated.

Dr. Olarik Musigavong, a renowned specialist in women’s health and a member of The Medical Council of Thailand’s committee, told Thai PBS that most teen mothers he has spoken with never imagined this would happen to them. One of the reasons, he observed, is that teachers frequently lecture students about avoiding premarital sex, giving them the impression that the topic is unrelated to them.

“They had no idea that having sex would make them pregnant,” he explained. “They also never think that pregnancy or raising a child is a problem, because most of the time, they are still in school and at home, so they do not understand about earning an income, or even how to take care of others. They don’t realize what they’re in for once they become pregnant because they don’t know.”

teen pregnancy

Dr. Olarik changed his communication technique when speaking to young students after noticing the problem, along with an effective punchline that not only grabs their attention, but also makes them realize the consequences of having sex during their school years.

“One thing I’ve noticed is that when you tell your students, ‘You’ll have to drop out of high school when you get pregnant and you won’t be able to find a job or earn a high income,’ nobody listens,” he says.

“However, when I said, ‘You will be dumped by your boyfriend because you are pregnant,’ all of the schoolgirls stared at me, wondering what I would say next.”

Another technique is to ask simple questions like, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Alternatively, ‘Who is your idol?’

“Some would say they want to be football players or doctors, knowing that they will have to study and practice hard in order to achieve their goals. ‘You know getting pregnant in your teens will make you stumble on your way to your dreams, right?’ I’d say. That’s when they realized there was a real problem with unintended pregnancy.”

“We would only learn about our bodies, organs, or the steps to pregnancy, but nothing else in greater detail,” Maneerat recalled of how sex education was taught to her when she was in school.

Sex education in Thai schools has long been criticized, with many people believing that it focuses too much on anatomy and not enough on consent. Traditional Thai cultural norms also make it difficult to discuss the subject openly.

Siriluck Chiengwong, Head of the UNFPA Thailand, teen pregnancy

Siriluck Chiengwong, Head of the UNFPA Thailand Office, explains that sex education in Thailand is insufficient because it only teaches human body parts and how pregnancy occurs.

“It doesn’t teach about what leads to a sexual relationship or even when you should start protecting yourself,” she said, adding that teachers are hesitant to reveal all the details due to Thai cultural norms.

When sex education is inadequate, it leads to a lack of understanding among teenagers, particularly regarding the consequences of becoming pregnant at a young age.

As a result, Siriluck proposes that comprehensive sex education, which includes topics like autonomy, consent, preventing sexual violence, and gender equality, be included in Thai school curricula.

“Sex can and must be discussed, not in the sense of encouraging them to have sex, but of providing them with knowledge about how to protect yourself when you decide to have sex, and if not, how to say no.”

teen pregnancy

Access to sexual and reproductive health services is another issue that contributes to teen pregnancy. Despite improvements in such services, what remains problematic is patient awareness, including accessibility and affordability for various groups of patients, as well as their own rights to prevent unintended pregnancies.

“If we don’t provide them with information or provide them with adequate access to reproductive health services, it all leads to unplanned pregnancies,” Siriluck explained.

“While prevention is important, how to solve the problem is equally important. If unplanned pregnancies do occur, what can we do to ensure a healthy pregnancy for these teen mothers, and how can we help them return to school or find work?”

Teen pregnancies frequently jeopardize their future, particularly their education. Unfortunately, most pregnant students in Thailand are either expelled or ostracized by their teachers and classmates, putting them under pressure to drop out.

In February of this year, a new ministerial edict was issued prohibiting schools from expelling pregnant students or forcing them to transfer to other educational institutions.

teen pregnancy

UNFPA Thailand supports this initiative because education is a basic human right, and not having access to education due to their pregnancy limits their opportunities. However, a strong support system must be in place to ensure that they can go about their lives without being stigmatized.

“No one wants to see their family members become teen mothers,” Siriluck explained. ‘If we have empathy, imagine that teen mother is our daughter or niece; would you want anyone to insult her? They are all human beings, just like the rest of us.”

Despite this, some people are opposed to the move, believing that allowing pregnant teenagers to stay in school will encourage more young people to engage in sex and become pregnant. Siriluck, on the other hand, does not believe that such a “trend” would ever be encouraged, given the pregnant students’ ability to prepare for exams or school projects in comparison to other students.

“If pregnant teens don’t receive a proper education, how are they going to live for the rest of their lives? “What does she do for a living?” Siriluck questions those who oppose pregnant teens returning to school.

teen pregnancy

“What the ministerial edict provides is the fundamental right to education, so I don’t believe it will set a trend of increasing numbers of pregnant adolescent students in schools.”

Though the ministerial edict exists to protect their fundamental rights, Dr. Olarik is concerned about how schools implement them. Based on his experience counseling pregnant schoolgirls, he claims that some of them felt that school was not a happy place for them from the start. When they became pregnant, they became a target for shaming by their teachers and peers, which eventually pushed them to drop out of school.

“However, some schools have wonderful teachers and classmates who are very supportive of pregnant students,” Dr. Olarik said. “As a result, I’d like to see schools that give pregnant students a second chance. Even if teen pregnancy causes them to stumble in life, it is not the end of the world; however, everyone must be supportive and assist them in getting back on track.”

While the women’s health specialist emphasizes the importance of education, no one wants to see teen mothers or their offspring end up committing crimes, or becoming victims of drug abuse or prostitution when they grow up, simply because they did not receive a proper education or upbringing. As a result, Dr. Olarik believes that families play an important role in providing love and care for their children in order for them to grow into good citizens.

“Teen pregnancies are just the tip of the iceberg,” Dr. Olarik explained. “I believe that the effects on society are the most important considerations. When it comes to teen pregnancies or children born into broken families, it often leads to more problems, such as domestic violence, drug abuse, and crime. This is because those children are frequently neglected.”

Though unintended pregnancy among teenagers is a complex issue, Siriluck believes that a multi-pronged approach is likely the best way to address it. Aside from preventive measures, we must also remove the social stigma associated with pregnant adolescent girls, provide positive emotional support, and encourage them to continue their education.

“To be clear, we do not encourage unplanned adolescent pregnancies,” Siriluck says, “but if it does occur, families, schools, and society must give them another chance, understand them, and allow them to start over.”

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP