Using contraceptives: Still paying a heavy price

There is an obvious connection between the facts that we have one of the EU’s lowest rates of contraceptive usage but more teenage mothers than most EU countries. 

Either we are happy to see so many young women’s lives defined by early motherhood or that we do not effectively teach sex education — or the consequences of parenthood, supported or otherwise — properly. It could be too that an aversion to contraceptives remains a strong cultural force or that, as is often the case, we do not consider the possibilities of indisciplined behaviour.

UN figures show that 67% of Irishwomen aged 15-49 use contraception, a ratio that puts Ireland fourth lowest in the EU league table. Ireland also has a relatively high number of births to young women in the 15-19 bracket. Some, probably a minority, of these births may be planned but it seems a reasonable assumption that the majority are not.

This society has paid a very heavy price for observing rules around sexual behaviour defined by religious dominance. It seems cruel to pretend that we do not need to do more to prepare our young children to live in today’s world without the possibility of premature parenthood. Becoming a parent should be one of life’s great joys but an unplanned child can perpetuate poverty and end the mother’s academic education, both of which seem a very heavy price to pay because of ignorance around contraception.