Teenage Maternity in the Dominican Republic

Pamela Pinales, sixteen yrs old, 7 weeks expecting, presents to own a good portrait exterior the girl house in which eight some one real time. Pamela, that is good junior from inside the senior high school, she claims it’s quite common for females to get pregnant while browsing college or university. “Just before I experienced pregnant, I did not know any thing regarding sex. I became very scared,” she told you. “I can’t show exactly what my newborns future is basically because I’m not sure exactly what my upcoming are.” Photo from the Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.

Miriam, 18 yrs old, nine weeks expecting, discussions outside a beauty salon having Comfort Corps volunteer Zena Clements. Zena become holding per week training into the mountain to educate family just how to securely use condoms also to speak about intercourse, relationship, and you will contraceptives-points that are thought forbidden for the belongings. Doc Eudhy Estevez, who’s got done half a year regarding an effective yearlong internship on Jamey clinic, said the fresh higher rate away from pregnant kids are associated with the fresh not enough knowledge of birth control use. Picture by the Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.

Yudeiqui, 18 yrs old, Aleini, three-years dated, and you will Yobel, 4 months dated: When you are her son Yobel sleeps into the, Yudeiqui Brito Guzman, whom goes by Ariza, sits and you may nourishes her child. ‘I’m here by yourself and that i have no you to definitely let grab proper care of my loved ones,’ told you Ariza, who begins the girl day at 7 a.m. to prepare breakfast to possess Aleini and Yobel. Their spouse Yosandi, 19, visits Monday courtesy Monday when he is not depending oranges on the business getting really works. Since he simply renders on 5,100000 pesos-more or less comparable to $113-every month, Ariza’s parents often upload them money. “It is really not enough-just what the guy becomes of working-but i build that which you it is possible to to purchase youngsters’ requires,” she told you. Image by the Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.

Yesenia, sixteen years of age, cuatro days pregnant, Jason 2 years old: Yesenia, four months pregnant, consist together with her niece and you can 2-year-old kid, Jason. Updates together was the girl spouse Vilo, who she believes is actually thirty two. He could be actually 73, on the woman father’s ages. Regardless if teenager mothers’ spouses are generally elderly throughout the mountainous part away from San Cristobal, also known as Jamey, Yesenia’s circumstances is extreme. “If only they are young,” she told you off Vilo, who has at the very least a dozen youngsters along with other ladies in the fresh town. “I must like your because he or she is my personal newborns dad.” Photo of the https://datingmentor.org/gay-dating/ Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.

Endeavor

Yanilda, 18 yrs . old, 7 months expecting, Yason, step one 1/2 years dated (left); Maria, 18 years old, 5 weeks pregnant, Omar a couple of years old: Maria and you can Yanilda bathe kids in advance of bathing on their own away from their house. The 2 women, both pregnant due to their next man, real time along with their people into the Jamey. Maria claims she didn’t can stop which have youngsters. This lady mother’s recommendations is ‘Don’t be which have a lot of guys,’ and you can ‘Protect yourself.’ “If i had understood throughout the birth control and you can condoms, I would was indeed protected,” Maria said. “I didn’t know any single thing.” Photo from the Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.

Danet Pinales, 17 years of age, Daneuris, 11-days-old: Danet rests while in the a job interview while you are holding the woman son, Daneuris. “I supply your, bathe him,” told you Danet, who would like the woman kid kid being a professional. “I manage him very good.” Danet eliminated probably university once doing the 5th level. She told you she plans to come back just after this lady guy was 3 months old, however for now, the lady interest is on looking after her infant. “I didn’t desire the baby now,” she told you. “I should keeps waited, however it only taken place.’ Visualize by Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.