Session Unplanned: Teenage Maternity on Dominican Republic

Teenage Maternity about Dominican Republic

Pamela Pinales, 16 yrs . old, seven weeks expecting, presents to own a portrait outside the lady house where seven some one alive. Pamela, who is good junior in senior school, she says it’s quite common for girls to conceive if you find yourself browsing college or university. “Prior to I experienced pregnant, I did not know anything regarding intercourse. I became really scared,” she told you. “I can’t let you know just what my little one’s upcoming is basically because I’m not even yes just what my future is actually.” Picture by Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.

Miriam, 18 yrs old, 9 weeks expecting, discussions outside a hair salon having Comfort Corps voluntary Zena Clements. Zena been holding a week courses into slope to coach kids just how to properly play with condoms in order to explore intercourse, relationships, and you can contraceptives-issues that are believed taboo inside the land. Doctor Eudhy Estevez, that has complete six months out of a great yearlong internship at the Jamey infirmary, said this new higher level away from expecting children would be related to the diminished experience with contraception fool around with. Visualize by Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.

Yudeiqui, 18 yrs old, Aleini, 36 months old, and you can Yobel, cuatro weeks old: Whenever you are the girl kid Yobel sleeps into the, Yudeiqui Brito Guzman, just who goes by Ariza, sits and you may feeds this lady girl. ‘I’m here by yourself and i do not have you to assist need proper care of my children,’ told you Ariza, who initiate their day at 7 a good.m. to set up breakfast getting Aleini and you may Yobel. The lady lover Yosandi, 19, visits Monday as a consequence of Friday when he isn’t counting apples at the the business for work. Once the the guy merely tends to make regarding 5,100 pesos-about comparable to $113-each month, Ariza’s moms and dads often post her or him currency. “It is not adequate-just what he will get where you work-however, we generate everything you you’ll to cover youngsters’ means,” she said. Photo by the Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.

Yesenia, sixteen years old, cuatro months pregnant, Jason 2 yrs dated: Yesenia, five months pregnant, sits with her niece and dos-year-old son, Jason. Status using them is actually this lady partner Vilo, just who she thinks is thirty-two. He could be indeed 73, on the her father’s years. In the event teen mothers’ spouses can be elderly regarding the mountainous part out of San Cristobal, also known as Jamey, Yesenia’s circumstances is actually high. “I wish they are young,” she said away from Vilo, who has about twelve college students together with other women in this new town. “I want to like him given that he could be my child’s father.” Photo because of the Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.

Opportunity

Yanilda, 18 yrs old, 7 weeks expecting, Yason, step one step one/a couple of years dated (left); Maria, 18 yrs . old, 5 weeks expecting, Omar 2 yrs old: Maria and you may Yanilda shower their children prior to bathrooms on their own outside of their home. Both females, one another expecting using their second man, alive together with their pupils for the Jamey . Maria states she failed to can prevent having students. Her mom’s guidance is actually ‘Don’t feel which have a lot of males,’ and ‘Protect your self.’ “If i had known about birth-control and you can condoms, I might had been secure,” Maria told you. “I didn’t know anything.” Picture by the Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.

Danet Pinales, 17 yrs old, Daneuris, 11-days-old: Danet rests during an interview when you find yourself holding the girl kid, Daneuris. “I supply your, shower your,” said Danet, who would like the lady child kid to become an engineer. “I look after your very good.” Danet eliminated attending college after finishing the fresh new 5th level. She told you she plans to come back immediately following the girl child are three months old, however for now, her interest is found on tending to this lady infant. “I did not want to have the infant now,” she told you. “I will have waited, but it merely took place.’ Image by Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.