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any teenagers in Denpasar have no access to information on reproductive health issues, leading to unwanted pregnancies.

In the last five months, Kisara Youth Clinic has received more than 100 female students who admitted that they were pregnant out of wedlock.

"Kisara has been providing counseling services to 200 teenagers in the city. Around half of them are girls with unwanted pregnancies. This is a disheartening fact," IGN Pramasemara, a medical coordinator at the Youth Clinic, said.

Opened on Sept. 1, 2008, the Kisara Youth Clinic is part of the Integrated Youth Center of Kisara organization.

The doctor said he was so optimistic and happy to see the increasing number of youth who were already aware of their personal health.

"They can be more open and have a place to share their troubles. We have to give them moral support, as well as medical assistance, to solve their problems," Pram said.

Pram added that some teenagers were found to suffer from various sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV/AIDS and even breast cancer.

"By visiting this clinic and sharing their problems with their peers or medical staff, young people are beginning to obtain knowledge on how to stop their risky behavior and to solve any existing physical and mental problems the right way," he said.

The clinic, located on Jl. Gatot Subroto IV, offers services such as psychological counseling, information on reproductive health, drugs and medical examinations. "Young people are also curious about proper sex education programs," he added.

The majority of teenagers visiting the clinic came from the outskirts of Denpasar. "Many of them came from other cities because they probably have no access to medical help or psychological counseling in their hometowns," he said.

In Bali, there are an estimated of 800,000 young residents out of the island's 3.5 million population.

Another doctor, I Ketut Raka, viewed unwanted pregnancies as one of the most serious health problems faced by young girls. "This will affect their future. Many of these girls have asked me how to abort their pregnancies," Raka said.