One in five pregnancies in Dominican Republic involved adolescents
Santo Domingo.- One in five pregnancies registered in the Dominican Republic during the first half of 2026 involved adolescents, with 7,124 cases accounting for 20.05% of the national total, according to data from the National Statistics Office (ONE).
Although teenage pregnancies have declined, the issue remains a significant challenge. During the second quarter of 2026, authorities recorded 3,368 cases, 3.91% fewer than during the same period last year.
To strengthen prevention efforts, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and pharmaceutical company Organon launched Wednesday a project aimed at preventing early unions and teenage pregnancies in communities along the Ozama River basin.
The initiative will focus on María Auxiliadora, Gualey, Los Guandules and Guachupita, seeking to expand opportunities for adolescents, improve access to sexual and reproductive health services, and strengthen coordination between public institutions and community organizations.
Focus on the Ozama region
The project responds to particularly concerning indicators in the Ozama region. According to the 2025 ENHOGAR-MICS survey, 23% of women ages 20 to 24 reported entering a union before turning 18, while 8.7% did so before age 15. The adolescent fertility rate stands at 31 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 19.
The initiative includes educational activities, sexual and reproductive health information, and expanded access to contraceptive methods, including long-acting reversible contraceptives.
The project will be implemented in coordination with the National Health Service (SNS) and the Dr. Julio Manuel Rodríguez Grullón Maternal and Child Hospital. It represents the second phase of collaboration between UNFPA and Organon, building on similar initiatives carried out in Azua, San Juan de la Maguana and Dajabón.
The organizations aim to establish a community-based intervention model that can reduce teenage pregnancies and early unions, strengthen health services and serve as a model for similar initiatives elsewhere in the Dominican Republic.
