Teen pregnancies on rise during summer break

More teenage girls have been calling this Shanghai's only accidental pregnancy hotline since the summer vacation started.

"We have seen a 12 percent increase in phone calls, and a 23 percent increase in abortion procedures," Dr Zhang Zhengrong from the 411 Hospital told China Daily.

"Many girls use their summer vacations to deal with these problems."

He added that accidental pregnancies are more likely to happen during the summer.

"Some people will come to us right before the new semester starts," Zhang said.

The 411 Hospital set up its accidental pregnancy hotline for teenagers about two years ago. The hotline has since helped more than 20,000 people, nearly half of them students.

"We have also found an increase in the number of pregnancies involving people who meet through the Internet," Zhang said. "Young girls seem to find it more relaxing and more open talking with strangers on the Web. Men often ask to meet a girl in person.

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"But after they have sex, and the girl becomes pregnant, the man often disappears. The girl, who once thought she was in love, often finds she barely knew the man."

Only about 20 percent of the girls who have come to the hospital were accompanied by their parents, Zhang said. The others were reluctant to let their parents know about their troubles. Many ended up coming with their friends.

Casual sex has also resulted in an increase in the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases. About half of the patients who have had abortions had gynecologic infections, Zhang said. "These youngsters showed an obvious lack of sex education."

The sex education offered at schools has often been found to be lacking, and few youngsters feel free to discuss sex with their parents.

Of the students who have had abortions, 10 percent were from junior middle schools, 20 percent were seniors and 25 percent were college students. Students from professional training schools accounted for a surprising 45 percent.

Earlier this month, the Shanghai Population and Family Planning Committee held an education campaign, calling on parents and school administrators to speak with youngsters about sex.