Australia – Aboriginal Young Girls Received “Temporary Sterilisation” Implants – Controversial

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https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au:80/articles/2008/04/15/1208025220631.html

Australia
– Aboriginal Girls Aged 12 ‘Temporarily Sterilised’

Tim
Dick | April 16, 2008

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.