Despite efforts to educate students about the difficulties of a teen pregnancy, young people continue to practice unprotected sex, fully aware of the risks, according to Government-run Teen Services.

And the organisation believes that deeply-rooted social problems are the cause of many unwanted pregnancies on the Island.

"We currently have a few girls who are fourth-generation teen mothers,'' said Michelle Wade, Director of Teen Services.

One hundred girls between the ages of 13 and 19 became pregnant in Bermuda between April 1997 and March 1998. Thirty four of those pregnancies were aborted, including 2 miscarriages. Almost all pregnancies were unplanned and out of wedlock.

And the figure is not particularly high. Between April 1996 and March 1997, 123 pregnancies were reported.

Teen Services provides counselling for teens during the pre-and post-natal periods. Most teens discover their pregnancy in the first trimester and are subsequently referred to the service by a parent, doctor, or their school.

A secondary school facility is also available, allowing pregnant teens to earn their Bermuda Secondary School Certificate (BSSC) and receive motherhood training. Some teens elect to return to CedarBridge or Berkeley after their child is born, where support groups and staff members can assist them.

Following the birth of a child, Teen Services remains involved by providing connections and further counselling for the mother. But Teen Services can do little to aid a problem all teen mothers face - affordable day care.

"Many cannot afford the $65 to $100 per week many private nurseries charge, and cheaper Government facilities are often oversubscribed with up to 18-month waiting lists,'' explained Ms Wade.

"Another centrally-located Government day-care centre is needed -- the average family struggles to make ends meet without the added burden of a grandchild.'' Although many think that the problem of teenage pregnancy is essentially a women's issue, fathers-to-be can also get help.

"We welcome their participation, but they are a bit more reluctant to address their problems,'' said Ms. Wade.

"It is important to foster a healthy relationship between parents, whether married or not.'' Because Government Schools do not provide a regularly scheduled sex education class, Teen Services has attempted to educate students by speaking at secondary schools.

The programme addresses pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases by providing realistic information about the emotional stress and expenses involved.

But Ms Wade admitted that addressing children at age 14 and 15 is too late.

"We need to go to middle schools and target 11 and 12 year-olds,'' she said.

Teen pregnancies have a variety of health-related consequences. The teenage mother is more likely to be undernourished and experience premature or prolonged labour. Children often suffer from low birth weight, have immature organ systems, and are at a greater risk of mental retardation. Their cognitive development is also slower and behavioural problems are worse than their peers.

Statistics also indicate that teen mothers are less likely to complete high school, less likely to get married, and more likely than their peers to require social assistance.

Although Bermuda's teen pregnancy rate is high, the United States tops all other countries in the Western World. Each year one million American teenagers within the population of 270 million become pregnant; 560,000 give birth.