Dominican Republic addresses adolescent pregnancy and stroke rates

The Dominican Republic is addressing two major public health challenges: adolescent pregnancy and stroke incidence.

According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), approximately 12,000 adolescents give birth annually in the country. While the Ministry of Public Health has reported a 55% reduction in the birth rate among 15-to-19-year-olds since 2017, the issue remains a significant social challenge. To combat this, the Dominican Republic has joined a two-year initiative with PAHO and MSD for Mothers to reduce preventable maternal deaths, prevent unplanned adolescent pregnancies, and improve maternal health services through better family planning and healthcare worker training.

Separately, the Dominican Society of Neurology and Neurosurgery has reported that approximately 22,000 stroke cases are recorded in the country each year. Dr. Ramón de León Berras, president of the society, noted that one in four people will experience a stroke in their lifetime. Experts emphasized the importance of the critical therapeutic window—the first 4.5 hours for thrombolytic treatments and up to 24 hours for specialized procedures—to reduce mortality and permanent disability. Efforts are underway to strengthen national hospital communication networks to ensure faster responses to neurological emergencies.