Early Pregnancy Poses Threat

Adolescent pregnancy can lead to serious impacts on early married girls’ health, education and economic well being writes Pornchai Suchitta, Officer-in-Charge, UNFPA, Bangladesh. According to her article, 70,000 adolescents die each year in developing countries because of early pregnancy and childbirth. Early pregnancy is related to decrease in household income and malnutrition. Suchitta’s research indicates, 15.8 is the median age for girls getting married; 66% have become mothers before 18 and are twice more likely t o suffer from pregnancy related complications. These girls are also less exposed to sexual and reproductive health related education and more exposed to poverty. Suchitta suggests increasing awareness and access to Sexual and reproductive health services and eradicating factors that may contribute to adolescent pregnancy.

Find out more: Facing the challenge of adolescent pregnancy, by The Daily Star.