According to Zhusip, teenage births occur almost twice as often in rural areas compared to cities. He expressed concern that the number of such cases in the country has increased by 1.5 times.
“The sharp rise in teenage birth rates, which began during the pandemic, has persisted for four years. In 2023, over 5,000 births among teenagers were registered, accounting for 1.3% of the total number of births,” said the Senator.
He also pointed out the rise in violence against minors. According to him, this issue affects the situation regarding teenage pregnancies but often remains in the shadows.
To address the situation, the senator proposed:
- to analyze the causes of the increase in teenage pregnancies;
- to strengthen the enforcement of laws protecting the rights of minors;
- to provide more information to teenagers and parents about the risks of early pregnancies, as well as the rights and responsibilities of minors.
“Teenage pregnancy is not just a health issue, but also an important social indicator. The current state of reproductive health among teenagers will directly impact birth rates and the country's demographics in the next 10–15 years,” emphasized the senator.
In addition, he urged the ministries of education, health, and labor to actively engage in solving the problem and to involve international organizations.
Previously, "Kursiv" reported that the deputy chair of the Committee of Administrative Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Renat Zulhairov explained how teenagers become victims of violence. He clarified that 50% of crimes against the sexual integrity of minors are committed with the use of violence, and 30% result from “voluntary sexual intercourse.” Furthermore, one in three such crimes was detected by the police during checks with health authorities.