Adolescent Pregnancy in the Dominican Republic

Yudeiqui Brito Guzman, just who passes Ariza, stands along with her step 3-year-dated child Aleini outside their home regarding the mountainous region of San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, also known as Jamey. Picture of the Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.

“I’m here alone and i have no one to assist grab proper care of my children,” told you Ariza, which initiate this lady day at eight an effective.m. to prepare break fast having Aleini and you can Yobel. Photo of the Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.

Ariza and you can Aleini stay and you can eat grain together with her outside of the family. “I experienced bad, given that I wanted to end school prior to getting pregnant,” she said, describing the fresh new fight away from pregnant while in classes. Visualize of the Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.

“I don’t know things to share with the lady or which age are the right in order to [prevent] my personal daughter off getting a pregnant adolescent,” Ariza told you. “I wish to give this lady to make use of condoms and you will contraceptives just in case she initiate making love, however, I’m not sure [if] it will be a good or bad to tell the woman all of the [one.]” Photo because of the Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.

Endeavor

Ariza consist exterior with her people. Ariza’s spouse Yosandi, 19, check outs Saturday as a consequence of Friday when he isn’t counting oranges at the the market industry getting functions. As he merely tends to make from the 5,100000 pesos-about equal to $113-per month, Ariza’s mothers possibly posting her or him money. dating a french man tips “That isn’t enough-what the guy gets at your workplace-but i make that which you possible to afford children’s demands,” she told you. Visualize by Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.

Aria attempts to place this lady child down getting a beneficial nap. If you find yourself the woman is so much more knowledgeable and you can economically steady than many other adolescent moms and dads, the majority of whom never graduate away from highschool and you may accept its moms and dads, Ariza told you: “I am not saying pleased with becoming a young mom.” Visualize of the Jennifer Gonzalez. Dominican Republic, 2014.

When you find yourself this lady cuatro-month-dated boy Yobel rests in the afternoon, 18-year-old Yudeiqui Brito Guzman, exactly who goes by Ariza, consist and you can feeds her daughter Aleini outside.

Ariza, whom resides in the fresh new mountainous region of San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, called Jamey, spoons rice towards 3-year-old’s mouth area in bright December date.

It is Xmas Eve, additionally the energetic guy hops off the red-colored, plastic material chair and you can scampers on the family members‘ latrine-a luxury throughout the mountain-only 10 feet off their pastel red and you may green home.

As among the pair expecting youngsters in your community to help you end up highschool, Ariza towns the fresh dish on the ground and you may increases her primary English book, one thing this lady has become reading to better learn the language. She begins to complete standard words, up to whimpering are read away from the girl half of-wooden, half-concrete house.

„I am right here by yourself and i also don’t have any you to assist take care of my family,“ told you Ariza, just who initiate this lady day at eight good.m. to set up morning meal for Aleini and you can Yobel.

Her lover Yosandi, 19, check outs Friday owing to Tuesday when he is not depending apples on the marketplace to own functions. Once the the guy merely can make from the 5,100 pesos-more or less equivalent to $113-monthly, Ariza’s mothers sometimes upload them currency.

„The guy said I experienced to exit the home of live with my better half,“ she said, moving Yobel in her own lap. „My personal mommy… noticed therefore unfortunate once the I found myself merely 15 years of age, and my personal grandparents was really enraged in the myself.“

While you are Ariza’s parents have been disappointed, they never ever gave the lady a proper sexual knowledge, a familiar motif one of teenage mothers regarding Dominican Republic.

Since the 18-year-old Maria Luisa Rodriguez, just who passes Yajaira, mom from dos-year-old Omar, put it: „My mom’s suggestions is actually, ‚Don’t end up being that have a lot of boys.'“

Yajaira, who’s four days pregnant, now uses their days taking care of Omar with her roomie, 18-year-dated Yanilda, the caretaker out-of nearly dos-year-old Yason. Yanilda is additionally pregnant together 2nd guy.

Ariza said she wants to contrary so it taboo and can down the road enlighten her own college students. This lady has thought about it a great deal, but doesn’t understand how otherwise when to enhance the girl daughter regarding the intercourse.

„I’m not sure what things to give their otherwise which years is actually suitable so you’re able to [prevent] my child away from are an expecting adolescent,“ she told you. „I would like to share with the woman to use condoms and you can contraceptives whenever she starts making love, however, I am not sure [if] it might be good otherwise crappy to share with this lady every [that.]“

„We noticed crappy, just like the I desired to end school before getting expecting,“ she said, explaining the brand new fight out of expecting during classes. „The most difficult section of getting an adolescent mommy try almost every other anyone gossiping in addition to their viewpoints. Including planning to college or university effect all the pregnancy periods, disease, vomiting.“

Until Aleini expands old enough for one dialogue, Ariza continues to reside her date because of the cleaning the household and you may bathrooms this lady children.

While you are she actually is so much more knowledgeable and you will economically secure than many other teenage mothers, much of whom never scholar off highschool and you may live with the mothers, Ariza said: „I’m not pleased with being an early mommy.“