Stopping the children’s marriage is crucial to suppress deadly teenage pregnancies: who

Every year, more than 21 million adolescents in low and medium-sized income countries are becoming pregnant. About half of these pregnancies is not unintentional. Nine in 10 births of adolescents occur among the girls who were married before they were involved in 18 years.

“Early pregnancy may have serious physical and psychological consequences for girls and young women, “said Dr. Pascale Alotey, director of sexual and reproductive health and research on WHO. “(They) often reflect the fundamental inequalities that affect their ability to shape their relationships and their life.”

Too young to give birth to

Teen pregnancy carries serious health risks. These include larger infection rates, complications and premature births. It also disturbs education and limits employment opportunities later in life. Many young mothers finish trapped in poverty.

To prevent teenager pregnancy, who invites governments to offer better alternatives to children’s marriage. They include improving access to education, financial services and jobs. If all girls finished high school, a children’s marriage could be mitigated to two-thirds, according to UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Stolen childhood

There was global progress. 2021 One in 25 girls gave birth to 20 years ago. Years. Twenty years earlier, the rate was one of 15 years. However, however, big gaps remain. In some countries, almost one of 10 girls aged 15 to 19 still gave birth every year.

“Early marriage denies childhood girls and has serious consequences for their health“Said Dr. Sherry Bastien, a scientist for adolescent sexual and reproductive health who.

She emphasized the strength of education in the transformation of the future of girls. At the same time, both boys and girls need to understand the concept of consent “and challenge the main gender inequities that continue to ride the high rates of children’s marriage and early pregnancy in many parts of the world. ”

Update the guidelines for whom advice issued in 2011. years. They promote Comprehensive education of sexuality Which UN Agency says is crucial so boys and girls know how to use different types of contraception and where to seek advice.

“It has been shown to reduce early pregnancy, postpone the beginning of sexual activity and improve the knowledge of adolescents about their bodies and reproductive health,” who said.