POSITIVE Parenting

Many of the fathers named in teen pregnancy cases are themselves teenagers.

Executive director of Women's Centre of Jamaica Foundation, Beryl Weir, said the centre provides counselling for them as well.

"We try to find the fathers and make them aware of their responsibilities of being a father and how they should handle the whole situation," said Weir.

The Women's Centre encourages teen dads to return to school and provides referrals for some to enter training programmes.

"It's best if they get an education, and if it's a case where they can't read, we refer them to a remedial education programme so that they can increase their long-term career achievement for their children," says Weir.

The fathers are also encouraged to practise safe sex and to avoid risky behaviour which could lead to more unplanned, unwanted pregnancies.