Timeline Vodcast: Teenage Pregnancy and Early Childbirth

Teenage pregnancy is a global issue that has serious health, social, and economic consequences. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every year, around 21 million girls aged 15-19 years become pregnant in developing regions, and approximately 12 million of them give birth.

Teenage pregnancy and early childbirth can have negative impacts on the development, education, livelihoods, and health of girls. Some girls put themselves in this situation due to their curiosity, while others experience it through no fault of their own. Factors responsible for teenage pregnancies include child marriage, child sexual abuse, inadequate access to contraceptives, and misinformation and bias in sex education.

The effects of teenage pregnancy are severe on young girls, as many of them are pressured or forced to drop out of school, which can impact their future education and employment opportunities. Moreover, teenage pregnancy and early childbirth can have social consequences for girls, including reduced status in the home and community, stigmatization, rejection, and violence by family members, peers, and partners, and early and forced marriage.

Adolescent girls, especially those in early adolescence, are particularly vulnerable to the health consequences of pregnancy and delivery as their bodies may not be physically ready.
Obstetric fistula, eclampsia, puerperal endometritis, and systemic infections are some of the serious health conditions that they may face in the short- and long-term. Globally, maternal conditions are among the leading causes of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and death among girls aged 15-19 – WHO

This episode of Timeline aims to highlight the dangers of teenage pregnancy and early childbirth while seeking collaborative efforts to put an end to this problem.

Let’s join the conversation and work towards a better future for young girls. Watch the Vodcast here.