Child Marriage/teen pregnancy: NOT okay!
- Stellar
- Mar 27, 2019
- 3 min read
Child marriage is a massive issue around the world; throughout South Asia, Africa and Latin America. 11% of all birth worldwide is delivered to young mothers around the age of 15 to 19 years and that’s about 16 million adolescent girls and adding to that 95% of this happens in developing countries. Early marriage is not just an ethical issue, it is also a serious public health problem due to its risks on both the mother and child.
Among South Asian countries, Nepal has a higher incidence rate of child marriage which is more prevalent in the economically deprived and Dalit communities of Terai region. Parents encourage marriage of their daughters while they are still very young under the impression it will be financially and socially beneficial (relieving financial burdens on the family). This leads to early pregnancy in spite of maturity and with little to no education on the matter it can be quite fatal for both mother and child.
But these practices continue as so many remain oblivious to the dangers involved.
So what are the Risks of Teenage pregnancy?
Low birth weight/ Premature birth: Teenage mothers are less likely to gain adequate weight during their pregnancy because of their immature body metabolism as per their age, leading to low birth weight baby. Low birth weight babies are more likely to have underdeveloped organs which later on can develop into various system disorders and even mortality. Stillbirths and spontaneous abortions are very likely to happen.
Lack of awareness about prenatal care: Prenatal care is the monitoring of fetus’s health and mother’s health before childbirth which includes the medical checkups, nutrition, vaccinations, and others to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Teenage mothers receive less prenatal care than the older women due to lack of knowledge and awareness.
Babies born to women who lack regular prenatal care are 4 times more likely to die before the age of 1 year.
Health risks like low anemia (low iron levels), high blood pressure/pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) which can lead to preeclampsia, possibility of cephalopelvic disproportion (the baby’s head is wider than the pelvic opening).
Lack of proper care: Children born to teenage mothers are less likely to receive proper nutrition, health care, cognitive and social stimulation. As a result, can have adverse effects on academic achievement. High possibility of negligence and abuse. Facts like boys born to teenage mothers are 13% more likely to be incarcerated later in life, and girls born to teenage mothers are 22% more likely to become teenage mothers themselves.
Teen mothers often face significant psychological and environmental stress, social stigma and are at risk for a number of mental health concerns that can affect them and their children, such as depression, substance abuse, PTSD and Postpartum depression.
Compared to older women, many adolescent girls are more likely to give birth without a skilled attendant which further compounds their risks and will certainly not help when they suffer emotional or mental health issues.
Researchers have found that twice as many teen moms are at risk of developing postpartum depression (PPD) as their older counterparts. Also, nearly three times as many adolescent girls with mental illness like depression, conduct disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia get pregnant in early ages who may find it very difficult to parent a child in a healthy way, especially if there’s a history of trauma or abuse. Supporting teenage mothers with mental health issues can also bring opportunities for prevention.
How do we prevent this?
When we talk about the prevention for the possible outcomes, PROTECTION is very important. Protection is actually about challenging power – protection shouldn’t be about restricting young girls’ freedom, but rather protecting them by recognizing and addressing the unequal social contexts and stigma. It is about empowerment of young women and girls, whether they have chosen to prevent pregnancy, to end their pregnancy, or be a young mother. They must be educated and made fully aware of the risks so they can make an informed decision.
Despite of all the efforts to prevent the issues with the teen pregnancy and childbirth, we need to support young pregnant girls and mothers in balancing parenthood with their own needs and helping them create a better future for their children. Supporting them emotionally to overcome the challenges they face and giving them every possible help is the best way of creating the better world in the modern society.
Dr. BAE
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