A report by the United Nations Population Fund (from UNFPA, the UN agency that works for sexual and reproductive rights and the end of violence) revealed that 121 million pregnancies worldwide are unintended. In Argentina, 43,210 adolescents between 15 and 19 years old had a son or daughter in 2022; although the adolescent fertility rate decreased by 60% in the last decade, it still remains high in some provinces. In addition, 5 out of 10 pregnancies are still unintended.
In this context, "An easier talk", a campaign promoted by the Argentine Advertising Council (CPA) and UNFPA, is an initiative to prevent unintended pregnancy in adolescence. With the main objective of sensitizing fathers, mothers and affective referents of adolescents on the positive impact of generating spaces for conversation that address sexual and reproductive health without prejudices and taboos, the project seeks to transform the ingrained perceptions around these issues.
"Unintended pregnancy in adolescence is a violation of rights that limits the freedom and autonomy of adolescents, mainly women", said Mariana Isasi, Head of Office of UNFPA Argentina.
She also stressed the importance of strengthening public policies on the subject, ranging from access to information, sexual and reproductive health services, various contraceptive method options, to training health service personnel in counseling and comprehensive care for adolescents on the subject.
Recent data addressing the socioeconomic consequences of adolescent pregnancy in Argentina revealed that adolescent fertility rates are associated with higher school dropout rates, specifically, only 38% finish high school, 3% access tertiary education and 1% go to university. On the other hand, from an economic perspective, it was determined that early motherhood produces socioeconomic costs amounting to 568 million dollars and 140 million to the care of pregnancies that could have been reinvested in their prevention.
"The life trajectory of an adolescent girl changes dramatically if she has a son or daughter before the age of 19. The data show that becoming a mother in adolescence decreases the probability of finishing high school and tertiary or university studies. It also affects other individual and collective rights and life trajectories. For example, the income level of women depends on their educational level, so those who have a child in adolescence see their possibility of generating higher income, with more qualified jobs, diminished", said Isasi.
And she added: "At the same time, it implies a negative socioeconomic impact for the State when these women are not integrated into the labor market and must invest in medical care for pregnancies, childbirth, postpartum, and in the care of these children".
The responsibility for addressing this challenge lies not only with governments and institutions, but with society as a whole. Collaboration between communities, educational centers, civil society organizations, international agencies, academia and the private sector is essential to strengthen the implementation of policies to advance in the prevention of unintended pregnancy in adolescence, especially for those who integrate the most neglected populations, such as LGBTIQ+, Afro-descendants, indigenous people, and people with disabilities.
The campaign "An easier talk" has the creativity of VML Argentina and the support of Brand Partners in the PR strategy. It seeks to prevent unintentional pregnancy in adolescence and also aims to generate long-term social and cultural transformations.
Florencia Saguier, President of the CPA, said: "We are proud to work together with UNFPA in the creation of the campaign. For the Advertising Council, it is very important to be able to contribute through communication to raise awareness and promote the conversation on this issue that has such an impact on the lives of adolescents".
For more information on the subject, please visit www.argentina.unfpa.org/unacharlamasfacil.
About the CPA
The Consejo Publicitario Argentino (Argentine Advertising Council) is an organization that has been developing public good communication for more than 60 years. It is made up of advertising companies, agencies and media. www.consejopublicitario.org
About UNFPA
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is an international development cooperation agency that works for sexual and reproductive rights and the end of gender-based violence. It is committed to ending preventable maternal deaths, ending gaps and inequalities in access to sexual and reproductive rights, and ending gender-based violence and all harmful practices.
https://argentina.unfpa.org/
Twitter: @UNFPAargentina
Instagram: @unfpaargentina
Facebook: @unfpaargentina
LinkedIn: unfpa-argentina
