Every year, more than 21 million young girls in low and middle -income countries become pregnant. About half of these pregnancies are unintended. Nine out of 10 teenage births occur among girls who got married before they turned 18.
“Early pregnancies can have serious physical and psychological consequences for girls and young women,” Dr. Pascale AlloTey, director of sexual and reproductive health and research at WHO. “(They) often reflect basic inequalities that affect their ability to shape their relationship and their lives.”
Too young to give birth
Teenager’s pregnancy has serious health risks. These include higher rates of infection, complications and premature birth. It also interferes with education and limits job opportunities later in life. Many young mothers end up being caught in poverty.
To help prevent teenage pregnancy that encourages governments to offer better alternatives to marriage children. These include improving access to education, financial services and jobs.
If all girls were finished in high school, child marriage could Get cut off up to two -thirds according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Stolen childhood
There have been global progress. In 2021, one in 25 girls gave birth before 20 years. Twenty years earlier, the rate was one in 15. However, there are still big holes. In some countries, almost one in 10 girls aged 15 to 19 still feeds each year.
“Early marriage denies girls their childhood and have serious consequences for their health,” Dr. Sheri Bastien, scientist of sexual and reproductive health in teenagers and reproductive health at WHO.
She emphasized the power of education to transform girls’ futures. At the same time, both boys and girls have to understand the concept of consent “and Challenge the greatest gender inequalities that continue to drive the high number of child marriage and early pregnancy In many parts of the world. “
The WHO guidelines are updated advice Issued in 2011. They promote extensive sexuality education, as the UN Agency says, is important that boys and girls know how to use different types of birth control and where to seek advice.
“It has been shown to reduce early pregnancies, delay the onset of sexual activity and improve young people’s knowledge of their bodies and reproductive health,” said there.
