Official figures indicate that 64% of teenage pregnancies in Cuba involve adult men

An analysis from the Gender Observatory of Alas Tensas (OGAT), based on official data from the 2024 Demographic Yearbook of Cuba from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), reveals that the majority of pregnancies among Cuban girls and adolescents involve adult men, a reality that national and international organizations deem a serious violation of human rights.

In 2024, 71,358 babies were born in Cuba, of which 11,962 (16.76%) were children of adolescent mothers under the age of 20, emphasized OGAT.

But beyond the total figure, official statistics show that in 64.5% of cases involving mothers under 20 years of age, the father was an adult, compared to only 12.56% with teenage fathers and 22.93% in cases where the father's age was not reported. These alarming figures highlight a problematic issue in Cuba.

The breakdown by age is equally revealing: among mothers under 15 years old, 40.55% of fathers were over 20 years old, while only 28.77% were young men of a similar age, and 30.41% did not report data.

In the group aged 15 to 19, only 12.05% of the parents were under 20, while 65.25% were adults, and in 22.7% of cases, the age was not recorded.

According to the OGAT, this data confirms that adolescent motherhood in Cuba primarily occurs in relationships with significant age differences, which poses a risk to the sexual and reproductive rights of minors and exposes asymmetrical relationships that can lead to violence and abuse.

The lack of information about the father's age in a significant percentage of cases is another obstacle to effective protection, as it hinders identifying responsibilities and designing prevention policies.

The legal context also raises concerns: although child marriage was abolished in 2022, the subsequent reduction of the age of sexual consent to 12 years has been pointed out by specialists from the platform Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba (YSTCC) as a factor that increases the vulnerability of girls and adolescents.

OGAT also warned that organizations such as UNFPA, WHO, UNICEF, and UN Women have indicated that pregnancies in minors under 18 violate rights, pose health risks, and perpetuate cycles of poverty and violence.

The WHO points out that these pregnancies carry greater medical, social, and educational risks, especially in contexts of inequality and lack of protection.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, one in four women married or lived in a union before turning 18, most often with significantly older men, perpetuating unequal power dynamics.

The UN and other organizations agree that the high prevalence of adult fathers in births to mothers under 20 years old in Cuba constitutes a serious risk and even sexual abuse in many frameworks of international rights.

In this context, OGAT demands comprehensive policies that include sexual education, prevention of early unions, empowerment of girls, and effective protection against any form of violence.

Recently, an official report revealed that Cuba maintains alarming figures of teenage pregnancies, which is concerning to specialists and organizations due to the health risks and social implications it entails.

This issue is compounded by the fact that, weeks ago, the shortage of condoms has led many young people to unplanned pregnancies, a situation that exacerbates the vulnerability of minors and limits the ability to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.

In the midst of these difficulties, the regime asserted that it prioritizes the distribution of baby bundles to pregnant women, although the reality shows that resources remain insufficient to meet the growing demand and ensure effective protection for mothers and newborns.

Frequently asked questions about teenage pregnancy in Cuba