Teen pregnancy still a major challenge in India

Pregnancy-related complications in Egmore are the number one cause of death among girls between 15 and 19 years of age. Adolescent girls are still growing themselves, they are at greater risk of complications if they become pregnant in such a young age. Moreover, child brides lack awareness and are less likely to receive proper medical care while pregnant or to deliver in a health facility.

Children born to teenage mothers are more undernourished than children of adult mothers in the community. This was also a study done by researchers at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) helps to understand how this happens. India is home to the more underdeveloped children than any other country and is one of the ten countries with the largest problem of teenage pregnancy. In India marriage before the age of 18 years is illegal, and in the survey conducted in 2016 National Family and Health Survey (NFHS)-4 publicized that 27 percent of girls are married before the age of 18 and further, 31 percent of married Indian women gave birth by the age of 18 years.

Young adolescents aged between (10–14) face a higher risk of complications and death in pregnancy than other women in the community. Indian adolescents are sexually active. By reducing adolescent pregnancy in India will increase its progress towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, mainly those related to poverty, health, nutrition, general welfare, equity, and education, Nguyen (2019) Children born to adolescent mothers are underweight and malnourished than in children born to adult mothers. This study gave an empirical light on pathways between teenage pregnancies and child undernutrition.

Scott (2019) All these teen pregnancy and child marriage shows the lack of mother’s education, the socio-economic status, lack of awareness and no proper guidance to direct the girl in the right direction of her life. Unfortunately early marriage and pregnancy is often not a good choice and it’s a circumstances beyond girl’s control. Many parents in the community wants to get their girl child to get married as soon as possible after her puberty, as they feel it’s safe for the girl. In which the teen had to discontinue her
studies for getting married. This makes the teens with lack of knowledge and empowerment. While only after the marriage they realize the hardship due to early pregnancy were some are not even aware of their pregnancy and about the sex education and the use of contraceptives.

Many young girls wanted to marry only after the age of 21 were they can continue schooling, college and by exploring employment opportunity. Without sex education and counselling the adolescent girls will be at high risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STI) and even HIV. Delaying marriage and pregnancy are challenges for girls in the community, which should be taken care by the social workers by giving awareness to the community people about the problems in teen pregnancy.