Close to 600 girls under 16 became pregnant in five years – CPA reports

Jun 09, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – The Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) recorded 584 cases of girls under the age of 16 becoming pregnant between 2020 and 2025, according to information provided to the National Assembly by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud. The figure relates only to cases that were referred to the agency during the five-year period.

Persaud was at the time responding to question posed by Opposition Parliamentarian and Leader of the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) party, Amanza Walton.

In a written response to a series of questions asked by Walton, Minister Persaud gave detailed breakdown of the process that follows an underage pregnant girl.

Among other things, the minister explained that while the agency’s data systems capture reports of underage pregnancies; however, they do not specifically disaggregate whether the child subsequently gave birth.

As such, she said the CPA is unable to provide a separate figure for girls under the age of 16 who gave birth during the specified period.

According to Persaud, all 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.

Asked whether there is a mandatory referral protocol between the Ministry of Health and the Child Care and Protection Agency when a child under the age of 16 is confirmed pregnant?

Dr. Persaud explained that there is an established inter-agency practice whereby cases involving minors who are pregnant are referred to the CPA. She noted that 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.

Based on the line of questioning, the Minister clarified that while there is no policy titled a “mandatory referral protocol” the referral of these cases is guided by the Protection of Children Act, Cap. 46:03, particularly, Section 4 – Duty to report a child in need of protection [under] Section 6 – Grounds for protective intervention, including sexual abuse, the Sexual Offences Act. Cap. 8:03, which establishes that sexual activity with a child under the age of 16, constitutes a criminal offence, thereby necessitating reporting and investigation and established inter-agency procedures between the health, social services, and law enforcement sectors

According to Dr. Persaud, the Ministry continues to strengthen formal coordination mechanisms to ensure consistency, timeliness, and accountability in the referral and response process and is in the process of developing policies which were not in place, previously.

The Minister noted that “When a child under the age of 16 gives birth or is identified as pregnant and the matter is brought to the attention of the Childcare and Protection Agency, a comprehensive child protection risk assessment is conducted. Upon receiving a report, the child is located and engaged by a Child Protection Officer.”

She explained that the initial interview is conducted to gather information on the circumstances of the pregnancy. The matter is reported to the Guyana Police Force, as pregnancies involving children under 16 constitute statutory offences.

“A forensic interview is conducted and a family investigation is conducted, including a home visit and assessment of the living environment,” the Minister disclosed adding that a risk assessment is then conducted to identify the alleged perpetrator and determine whether the perpetrator resides in the household.

“Based on the findings, if the environment is unsafe, particularly where the perpetrator is within the household, the child is removed and placed into alternative care,” Persaud said in her written response.

She noted that further evaluation of the safety and stability of the home environment is taken, an assessment of care giving arrangements and support system and a determination of risk to both the child and the newborn, which determines placement.

“Where necessary, the family is referred to health services to ensure proper medical care and health-related interventions. The Agency conducts ongoing monitoring and supervision and if the environment is assessed as safe and stable, the child may remain with family under supervision.”

The Minister noted that opportunities for reintegration

She said there are a number of initiatives facilitating their return to the formal education system or enrollment in technical and vocational training programmes.

Additionally, the Ministries of Health and Education offer programmes aimed at supporting pregnant adolescents, including initiatives that encourage and assist young mothers in returning to school.

Over the past five years, she said provision of counselling and psychosocial support to adolescent mothers, parenting training sessions to enhance care giving capacity.

“There is reintegration of adolescent mothers into families and communities, where appropriate referrals to health and education services, and ongoing monitoring and case management [are done].”

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• adolescent mothers, Amanza Walton, Forward Guyana Movement party, teenage pregnancy

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