Each year, more than 21 million adolescent girls in low and intermediate income countries fall pregnant. About half of these pregnancies are not intentioned. Nine out of 10 adolescents occur in girls who have married before they were 18 years old.
“Early pregnancies can have serious physical and psychological consequences for girls and young women,” said Dr. Pascale Allotey, director of sexual and reproductive health and WHO research. “(They) often reflect fundamental inequalities that affect their ability to shape their relationships and their lives.”
Too young to give birth
Pregnancy in adolescent girls has serious health risks. These include higher infection rates, complications and premature births. He also disrupts education and limits job possibilities later in life. Many young mothers find themselves trapped in poverty.
To help prevent pregnancy among adolescent girls, who asks governments to offer better alternatives to child marriage. These include improving access to education, financial services and jobs.
If all the girls have finished high school, children’s marriage could Be reduced to two thirds, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Stolen childhood
There has been global progress. In 2021, one in 25 girl gave birth before the age of 20. Twenty years earlier, the rate was 1 in 15. However, big gaps remain. In some countries, almost one in 10 girls aged 15 to 19 are still giving birth each year.
“Early marriage denies the girls of their childhood and have serious consequences for their health,” said Dr. Sheri Bastien, scientist for the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents to Who.
She highlighted the power of education in the transformation of the future of girls. At the same time, boys and girls must understand the concept of consent “and question the main gender inequalities which continue to generate high levels of marriage of children and early pregnancy In many regions of the world. »»
Updating the WHO directives advice Emitted in 2011. They promote a complete sex education which, according to the United Nations agency, is essential so that boys and girls know how to use different types of contraception and where to seek advice.
“It has been shown to reduce early pregnancies, delays the start of sexual activity and improves adolescent knowledge about their bodies and their reproductive health,” said.
