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Adolescent pregnancy and associated risks

Star Health Desk
Adolescent girls who give birth each year have a much higher risk of dying from maternal causes compared to women in their 20s and 30s. These risks increase greatly as maternal age decreases, with adolescents under 16 facing four times the risk of maternal death as women over 20. Moreover, babies born to adolescents also face a significantly higher risk of death compared to babies born to older women.
About 16 million adolescent girls aged 15-19 give birth each year, roughly 11% of all births worldwide. Almost 95% of these births occur in developing countries. Bangladesh is one of the seven countries where half of all adolescent births takes place.
About 75% of adolescent pregnancies are intended due to social and cultural norms or because unmarried young women see it as their only means of establishing identity. Worldwide, births to unmarried adolescent mothers are far more likely to be unintended and those outside marriage are more likely to end in abortion. A small but significant percentage of adolescent pregnancies result from non-consensual sex.
Despite the downward trend in developed world, adolescent
pregnancy remains very prevalent, particularly in the poorest countries. Adolescent childbearing has a negative impact on these three dimensions: health of the adolescents and their infants; individual social and economic effects; and societal level impacts.
Conditions associating adolescent childbearing and maternal health problems include obesity, anemia, malaria, STIs, mental
illness, unsafe abortion complications, and obstetric fistula. Accounting for about 11% of all births worldwide, maternal conditions in adolescents cause 13% of all deaths and 23% of all disability adjusted life years. Studies have shown rates of newborn death to average about 50% higher to adolescent mothers versus mothers in their 20s.
Studies have also shown that delaying adolescent births could significantly lower population growth rates, potentially generating broad economic and social benefits.
We can prevent adolescent pregnancy by mass awareness, increase access to contraception and can reduce complications related to pregnancy by proper care. Mothers and babies need care in pregnancy, for childbirth and after birth. It must be delivered as a continuum of care that starts in the household and community and extends into the healthcare system, including care for complications.
Making pregnancy safer for the youngest mothers and their babies is a priority for countries as they strive to meet targets for improving basic health care. Maternal and newborn health programmes have a clear role in better serving the needs of the youngest mothers.
Source: World Health Organisation