3. Teen Pregnancy Facts - Worldwide According to UNFPA State of the World Population 2013, every day in developing countries, 20,000 girls below age 18 give birth. 9 out of 10 of these births occur within marriage or a union.

4. Teen Pregnancy Facts – St. Maarten In 2007, 10.37% of all births on St. Maarten were to teen mothers. Less than 5% of those births occurred in a marriage or union. WE DEFINITELY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TEEN PREGNANCY ON ST. MAARTEN.

7. At the tender age of 17, our interviewee became pregnant. While her family was very supportive to her, in the beginning her mom took it very hard, nonetheless, she stood by her and supported her. Our interviewee took it upon herself to take on the responsibilities that came with being pregnant. She left her mother’s home and cared for her son. Three months after the birth of her son, she left to go to college for one year. During this time, not being with her son, she experienced breasts full of milk and it was very painful, which brought an emotional strain and burden for her. During this time, she was not able to be a mother to her son. She was also not able to buy things that girls at that age would be able to buy or even to put money towards her education like she would have want to…. she had to put that money towards raising her son.

8. Having her son, delayed her education – it took her 10 years to get her first degree as she had to work and study part-time. Eventually she had to leave her son a second time to continue her education. While she took on the responsibility of raising her son, most of her friends were off to school and it did not allow her to have much of a social life. This experience made her life more challenging and took a lot out of her. The experience also robbed her son of things that a mother should do for her son, because of these challenges. She is proud of her son and thinks she has been a good example showing others to be committed. She is now the Acting Head of the Education Department on our island.

11. Solution #1 for Teen Pregnancy on St. Maarten ( possibly worldwide) We need a comprehensive sex education curriculum within our school system and society, and a support program that not only educate but engage youths on the effects of teenage pregnancy on all aspects of their life.

13. Conclusion We have to work together to achieve this.