Phatcharaphan Prachuablarb is the fruit of an unplanned teen pregnancy. Born to a mother who was only 18, he knows what it is like to grow up in a family not ready to raise a child.
The 19-year-old sees unwanted teen pregnancy as an aggravating social issue. To tackle it, he believes it is key to equip them with a protective shield, and make adults understand the importance of carrying such armour.
"Thai children have long been taught that women must not have sex before marriage and men have to treat women with respect. But when that moment comes when they are alone together, such values vanish. The best solution is to hand them protection," said Phatcharaphan.
Phatcharaphan is referring to a condom, which can help prevent not just unplanned pregnancies but also sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/Aids. As chairman of the Youth Network of Bangkok, he has been working with the public and private sectors encouraging teens to use condoms and urging adults to realise that the use of protection should no longer be treated as a taboo.
Phatcharaphan raised such a concern on behalf of people his age at a seminar last week entitled "Public-Private Partnership For Safe Love". Organised by the Ministry of Public Health, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, the seminar addressed the National Condom Strategy and the promotion of safe sex and condom use. With St Valentine's Day less than a week away, panellists believed the issue regarding safe sex must again be highlighted especially among teens, parents and schools alike.
Teen pregnancy has long been Thailand's most grievous social issue. According to data from the Ministry of Public Health's Bureau of Reproductive Health, the country's teen pregnancy rate is the highest in Southeast Asia and the second highest in the world.
Dr Thongchai Lertwilairatanapong, deputy director-general of the Department of Health under the Ministry of Public Health, admitted that teen pregnancy is an ongoing national concern, which requires collaboration from the public and private sectors.
"Most of the cases [of teen pregnancy] are found to be the consequence of unprotected sex," said Dr Thongchai. "The Department of Health has been working with several parties, including the Ministry of Education, but it seems that we have yet to reach successful outcomes."
Dr Thongchai cited statistics from the Ministry of Public Health with regard to teen reproductive health. Despite ongoing campaigns for condom use, the teen pregnancy rate has not reduced.
"In 2000, Thailand saw 240 babies being born per day by mothers who were below the age of 20. In 2014, the number rose to 316 per day. We have also found that 30% of reported abortion cases were among girls below the age of 20. And abortion has certain has health impacts. Some patients died," Dr Thongchai explained.
Dr Bunyarit Sukrat, assistant director of the Bureau of Reproductive Health, added that when it comes to unplanned teen pregnancy, the problem does not lie in the availability of contraception given there are several birth control measures to choose from, be they pills, condoms and so forth.
"This entire issue is all about understanding," commented Dr Bunyarit. "Figures from the Department of Health reveal that half of the country's unplanned teen pregnancy cases is caused by the fact that they do not opt for birth control. For the other half, they do use protection but their birth control methods fail. These numbers suggest that reducing the risk of unplanned pregnancy is crucial. More sex and more sex partners mean higher risk of not just getting pregnant but also getting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV."
In order to promote the use of condoms as an effective birth control approach, it is first paramount to change public attitude towards the condom itself, according to Wassana Im-Em, assistant representative from the United Nations Population Fund.
"The most important question that we, the society as a whole, need to answer is how to normalise this condom issue," she said. "In the past, the use of condoms was usually associated with prostitution. But the situation has changed. And so has the generation. Therefore, people's attitudes should also be changed."
First, said Wassana, teens should bear in mind that unprotected sex leads to unplanned pregnancy, which has a price to pay. If they get pregnant while they are students, they might decide to leave school, which means they lessen their chances for self-development.
Then adults -- parents and schools in particular -- should also stop considering condoms as improper and unacceptable.
"Teens want to use condoms," said Phatcharaphan. "What they need is understanding and support."
