Almost 600 pregnant teenage girls under the age of 16 were referred to the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) between 2020 and 2025, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud disclosed in a document to the National Assembly.

According to the Human Services Minister, the Childcare and Protection Agency records all reports involving minors, including those relating to pregnancy. It was disclosed that during the period 2020 to 2025, a total of 584 pregnant girls who were all under the age of 16 were referred to the Childcare and Protection Agency.

Minister Persaud made the disclosure in response to a series of questions posed by Leader of the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), Member of Parliament Amanza Walton.

MP Walton told News Source today that the high number of teenage pregnancies recorded during the five year period, paints a troubling picture of the state of affairs of young girls in Guyana.

“The figure is actually deeply, deeply concerning because you are talking about almost 600 children under the age of 16 becoming pregnant over a five year period. And these are not simply statistics – each number represents a child, whose circumstances require serious scrutiny from a child protection, health, education, law enforcement perspective. So, what the figure suggest is that adolescent pregnancy among very young girls remain a significant issue that demands sustained national attention,” MP Walton said.   

MP Walton also questioned the Human Services Minister on the number of girls under the age of 16, who had given birth, and had been referred to the agency, but Minister Persaud indicated that the data was not available.

The Human Services Minister explained that while the CPA’s system captures reports of underage pregnancies, the data is not further disaggregated to highlight the number of girls who would have subsequently given birth. 

“The agency is unable to provide a separate figure for girls under the age of 16, who gave birth during the specified period,” the Human Services Minister said.

She said such matters are treated as child protection concerns and are assessed to determine the presence of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, with appropriate interventions implemented in each case.

MP Walton had also questioned the Human Services Minister on whether there was a mandatory referral protocol system in place between the Ministry of Health and the Childcare and Protection Agency, when a child under the age of 16 is confirmed pregnant. In response, it was explained that there is an established inter-agency practice that sees cases involving minors who are pregnant being referred to the CPA.

“Private healthcare providers, as well as the Ministry of Health, notify the agency when a pregnancy involving a child under the age of 16 is identified, as such cases may indicate sexual abuse under the law,” Minister Persaud explained.

However, she admitted that there is no “single stand-alone policy titled ‘mandatory referral protocols,’” but assured the National Assembly that the referral process is guided by the Protection of Children Act, in particular Sections 4 and 6; and the Sexual Offences Act, which establishes that sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 constitutes a criminal offence, thereby necessitating reporting and investigation.

It was also noted that there are established inter-agency procedures that are followed by the Health, Social Services, and Law enforcement sectors.

 “The ministry continues to strengthen formal coordination mechanisms to ensure consistency, timelines, and accountability in the referral and response process, and is in the process of developing policies which were not in place, previously,” Minister Persaud said.

But MP Walton said the protocols and procedures must be put in writing.

“The fact that there is a legal obligation, and established practice is welcomed, and is very important. I think, however, good system should not deep solely on institutional memory or informal practice. Clear protocols would help to promote consistency, and accountability and it will help with training and oversight. And so, what I had hoped to get from the minister, was look, there are these protocols, they are contained in these manuals, so that we are sure that the system doesn’t collapse if somebody exits because they are the repository of all of the institutional information,” MP Walton said.

It was disclosed that when a child under the age of 16 gives birth or is identified as pregnant, the case is immediately brought to the attention of the CPA, and a comprehensive child protection risk assessment is conducted.

During the initial stage, the child is located and engaged by a Child Protection Officer, an interview is conducted and the matter is reported to the Guyana Police Force on the grounds that pregnancies involving children under the age of 16 constitute statutory offences.

Additionally, a forensic interview, as well as a family investigation, is conducted, which includes visits to the home and an assessment of the living environment.

The assessment also includes identification of the alleged perpetrator, a determination of whether the perpetrator resides in the household, an evaluation of the safety and stability of the home, an assessment of the care-giving arrangements and support systems, and determination of risk to both the child and the newborn, which determines placement.

 Minister Persaud said where necessary, the family is referred to health services to ensure proper medical care and monitoring.

“If the child is not already receiving care, the Agency ensures clinic registration and medical follow-up,” the Human Services Minister said, while adding that continuous follow-up is conducted to ensure attendance at antenatal and postnatal clinics. However, in hospital referral cases, coordination occurs directly with the healthcare providers to support care planning.

The Human Services Minister was keen on noting that should the environment be unsafe, particularly if the perpetrator lives within the same household, the child is removed and placed in alternative care.

The Human Services Minister said there are systems in place to ensure that a child receives post-natal care, and is monitored and supervised. Cases are only closed when the Childcare Agency is satisfied that both child and infant are in a safe and stable environment, and all identified risks have been adequately addressed and mitigated.

The Human Services Minister said whether the matter is referred through the hospital system or reported through other channels, the CPA applies a standardized, multi-step child protection process, ensuring investigation, protection, medical support, and ongoing monitoring to safeguard both child and her newborn.  (Svetlana Marshall)

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