Teen pregnancies (ciąże nastolatek) happen everywhere. A new report shows approximately 20,000 teenagers give birth to children in Poland each year.

The data, compiled by the Central Statistical Office (GUS), states that during 2010 around 4 percent of pregnant women were teenagers, the majority of which were aged between 15-19.

A recent study conducted by SMG / KRC shows that the most perceived problem teenagers face when having a child is money (pieniądze).

In total, 44 percent of respondents believed that a lack of suitable finances (brak odpowiednich finansów) was the main cause for concern. Being forced to deal with negative social reaction (negatywna reakcja społeczna) was next on the list (21 percent), followed closely by a lack of help and support (brak pomocy i wsparcia) from either relatives or the child’s father (19 percent).

This increase in teen births in Poland compares with the UK where the teen pregnancy rate in England and Wales is currently at its lowest level for over 40 years. Official data released by the UK Office for National Statistics states that in 2010, a total of 34,633 girls under the age of 18 fell pregnant – a 9 percent less compared to the previous year’s 38, 259.

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)