A hospital in Shanghai has announced the availability of several
methods of emergency contraception to minimize teenage pregnancies
in the city.
Experts, however, urge juveniles not be sexually promiscuous
despite the easier access to contraception at affordable costs.
Among the offerings of Shanghai No 1 Maternity and Child Health
Hospital are luteal phase contraception, menstrual induction
contraception as well as emergency post-coital contraception.
"The methods take into account social reality and will,
hopefully, be helpful to youngsters who inadvertently get
pregnant," said Wu Xuezhe, a senior gynecology specialist of the
hospital.
Wu and her research team are reported to have developed the use
of luteal phase contraception after more than 10 years' efforts but
admits that the approach is hardly the latest in medical
findings.
However, "more publicity (to such approaches) will hopefully
lead the public to pay more attention to the issue," she said.
Experts have pointed out that the onset of pubescence among
youngsters is 11 years for girls and 13 for boys.
Yet their sexual knowledge, either from their teachers, peers,
parents or the Internet, does not seem to match their sexual
maturity.
Local reports have revealed that there was a nearly 30 percent
increase from three years ago to last year in the number of teenage
abortions at local hospitals, though details are not immediately
available.
"We treat teenage mothers each week; and one was less than 12
years old," Cheng Linan, president of the Shanghai International
Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, was quoted as
saying.
The total number of teenage mothers treated by the hospital
exceeds 50 every year, and the figure is increasing, according to
Cheng.
"The availability of the new contraception methods is basically
intended to solve the problem at an early stage, otherwise it will
be quite dangerous for teenagers," said Wu, referring to the danger
of abortion during late-stage pregnancy.
The contraceptives, effective within 72 hours of intercourse,
cost 20 yuan to about 200 yuan (US$2.4-24).
"But they (the approaches at reasonable costs) are definitely
not designed to encourage teenage promiscuity," noted Wu.
Xu Jieshuang, a specialist at Shanghai Family Planning Technical
Institute, agrees. The organization operates the city's first free
Teenage Caring Club, which provides medical or consultant services
through a hotline for troubled juveniles.
(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2004)