Blog Post: Teen Pregnancy Statistics

Most experts agree that the official national statistics in Ukraine are unreliable, making it difficult to determine the reality of life for children who have graduated from orphanages (called "boarding schools") in Ukraine.

However, according to the first Ukraine Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) conducted in 2007, more than 9% of Ukrainian children live in institutions or foster situations. The women most at-risk for low birth weight, poor prenatal care, and less access to information about sexual reproduction and family planning are younger, less educated, and live in rural areas. Furthermore, children graduate at the age of 16 and are, therefore younger when they start their lives as adults.

We have a better understanding of our local situation, having worked with and followed this population. Over the last five years, 38 female graduates from the Perechyn boarding school have become pregnant and from among them 51 babies have been born. Virtually all of these newborns are living in orphanages or in foster situations (some with grandparents).

Many of the girls have had physical and psychological problems associated with their pregancy and the birth process due to their lack of access to or knowledge of prenatal, resources and information about how to care for themselves. Abortion is not uncommon, nor are sexually transmitted diseases.