Dr. Bunyarit Sukrat, Director of the Bureau of Reproductive Health, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, revealed that while statistics on teenage pregnancies in Thailand show a downward trend, it remains a challenging issue. The latest reproductive health situation report for adolescents and youth in 2022 from the Department of Health indicates that a total of 42,457 girls aged 10-19 gave birth, with 1,569 from the 10-14 age group, resulting in a rate of 0.8 per 1,000 girls aged 10-14. In the 15-19 age group, there were 40,888 births, with a rate of 21.0 per 1,000 girls aged 15-19. There were 3,181 repeat births among women under 20, accounting for 7.5% of teenage mothers aged 10-19 who became pregnant ⁽¹⁾.

The Ministry of Public Health aims to reduce the birth rate among girls aged 10-14 to no more than 0.5 per 1,000 girls aged 10-14, and for those aged 15-19 to no more than 15.0 per 1,000 girls aged 15-19 by the year 2027 ⁽¹⁾. A key focus is to ensure that adolescents have access to accurate information about contraception, as well as the health impacts on both themselves and newborns. Additionally, promoting quality births for those who are ready and supporting contraception for those who are not yet prepared to have children is a priority for the Ministry, with the goal of enhancing the quality of life for Thai citizens.

The government has established guidelines to promote access to contraception for the public. The National Health Security Office (NHSO) provides family planning services, including temporary contraceptive methods such as birth control pills, emergency contraceptive pills, injectable contraceptives, implants, and intrauterine devices (IUDs), as well as permanent methods like sterilization for both women and men, all at no cost for all Thai citizens under the healthcare system. Furthermore, condoms and birth control pills can also be obtained for free through the Paotang application.
 

Asst. Prof. Dr. Sukanya Sripho, Secretary-General of the Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand (PPAT) emphasized that learning about contraception and preventing teenage pregnancies is part of planning for the future for the younger generation. As this age group is in a phase of forming relationships, it is vital to support and promote access to comprehensive and accurate knowledge about contraception for teenagers, students, and youth. Understanding the different methods of contraception for both men and women, along with their effectiveness, is essential in preventing unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Sukanya noted that the Planned Parenthood Association has continuously campaigned to support family planning and reduce unintended pregnancies in teenagers to ensure that every birth is of high quality.

Mr. Bradley Williams, Managing Director of Bayer Thai Co., Ltd and General Manager of Pharmaceuticals Division., stated that many countries have high teenage pregnancy rates, with an estimated 21 million young people aged 15-19 becoming pregnant each year in low- and middle-income countries (2). Some cases result in abortions, with approximately 12.8 million adolescents aged 15-19 and over 500,000 aged 10-14 giving birth annually (3). As a leading company in life sciences and women's healthcare, Bayer believes that good family planning and access to effective reproductive health services promote gender equality, economic opportunities, alleviate poverty, and reduce social issues in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Dr. Paneeya Sutabutra, Country Medical Director of Pharmaceuticals Division, Bayer Thai Co., Ltd., added that it is essential for youth to seek reliable sources of information on contraception or consult pharmacists and healthcare professionals to make informed decisions. Bayer has been promoting the "Bayer For Her" campaign to encourage women to openly discuss health issues and seek expert advice to seize every important opportunity in their lives.

For World Contraception Day activities on September 26, 2024, under the campaign’s theme  EmpoweringChoices, One Decision at a Time, several initiatives will target the audience, including: