An 11 year-old Costa Rican girl who lives in the area of Sarapiquí, Heredia was taken to the hospital by her mother due to an abdominal pain; however, after being examined, doctors discovered she is 14 weeks pregnant.

“The girl was brought to the emergency service by the mother to check on an abdominal pain, when she is being examined the mother suggests that she gets a pregnancy test and indeed it comes back positive”, explained Rocio Gomez, director of the CCSS health center where the child received medical attention.

The hospital authorities immediately alerted the Child Welfare Agency Costa Rica (PANI) and the District Attorney Office

Apparently the father is a 15-year-old Nicaraguan who fled the country after hearing of the pregnancy.

The girl was left at the care of the mother since it was determined that it was safe for the girl since the mother looks after her and her sister; authorities are providing psychological attention and the support of a social worker.

The mother commented in an interview that she didn’t have reasons to suspect that there was any type of relationship between her daughter and the 15-year-old who apparently met the girl at the “soda” (small cafeteria) where the mother works.

The Child Welfare Agency Costa Rica offers scholarships of 100 thousand colones a month ($177.00) for young mothers to continue their education. This program currently benefits a total 2,600 minors.

According to the National Institute of Statistics (INEC) a total 349 pregnancies were registered in 2016 in minors under 15-years of age; the majority of these were in Limon (76), followed by San Jose (75), Alajuela (71), Puntarenas (53), Heredia (28) and Cartago and Guanacaste with 23 each.

The pregnancy of this 11-year old is considered a high-risk pregnancy since it carries significant health complications.