WUNRN
Australia
- Aboriginal Girls Aged 12 'Temporarily Sterilised'
ABORIGINAL girls as young as 12 have received long-lasting contraceptive implants, according to the Queensland opposition, which claims "temporary sterilisation" tacitly approves of under-age sex, but fails to prevent sexually transmitted infections.
Jann Stuckey, the opposition spokeswoman on child safety, said at least four - and possibly five - adolescent girls had received the implant Implanon over the past two years, in Woorabinda, central Queensland.
She said the information came from four different sources, and one girl had three sexually transmitted infections.
"If this is policy, this is an absolute disgrace," the Liberal MP said, describing the attitude underlying the contraceptive's administration as: "We've got to stop them from being pregnant, but we're condoning rape."
Implanon is a small plastic rod inserted under upper-arm skin. It contains a hormone which stops ovulation, lasts at least three years, and has a low failure rate compared with other contraceptives because users do not have to remember to take a pill.
Mrs Stuckey, who used to be a nurse, said the implants increased the likelihood of girls having sex, tacitly approved under-age, unsafe sex, and were visible to potential sexual partners.
She did not know how widespread the practice was, and yesterday sought figures from the Queensland Government on how many teenage girls with the implant also have sexually transmitted infections.
The state's acting Chief Health Officer, Linda Selvey, issued a statement, saying in "extreme cases" education was of limited help in minimising possible harm, particularly for those not able to make informed decisions about sex and contraception.
"Health professionals have to weigh up the health risk of using such a device versus not using the device, and I can guarantee you that these measures are not considered lightly," Dr Selvey said, and would involve the parents.
David Molloy, a gynaecologist and spokesman for the Australian Medical Association of Queensland, said while doctors discouraged patients from having sex too young, they had to confront the reality of teenage pregnancies.
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