In a startling revelation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has found that about 16 million girls aged 15 to 19 years and two million girls under the age of 15 give birth every year. Worldwide, one in five girls has given birth by the age of 18. In the poorest regions of the world, this figure rises to over one in three girls, the International health agency has said.
“Almost all adolescent births, about 95 per cent, occur in low and middle-income countries. Within countries, adolescent births are more likely to occur among poor, less educated and rural populations,” it said.
The report cites-lack of education on how to avoid becoming pregnant, lack of sex education as crucial reasons for the burden. “Some adolescents do not know how to avoid becoming pregnant, or are unable to obtain contraceptives. However, even where contraceptives are widely available, sexually active adolescents are less likely to use contraceptives than adults,” the report said.
According to the report in Latin America, Europe and Asia only 42-68 per cent of adolescents who are married or in partnerships use contraceptives. In Africa the rate ranges from 3-49 per cent.
The report found that lack of sexuality education in many countries is playing a key role in this menace.
A global coverage measure related to sexuality education estimates that only 36 per cent of young men and 24 per cent of young women aged 15-24 in low and middle-income countries have comprehensive and correct knowledge of how to prevent HIV.