Health

UNICEF Report Reveals Shocking Teen Pregnancy Death Rate

by Tina Kells | January 15, 2009 at 12:44 pm

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UNICEF has released a 160-page report that houses some shocking statistics on global teen pregnancy rates and mortality. The State of the World's Children report indicates that each year 70,000 females between the ages on 15-19 die during childbirth, a rate that is five times higher than that for women in their 20s.

Teen pregnancy is a major area of concern in developed countries but the problem is even more dire in developing nations where teen pregnancy can be a death sentence. The State of the World's Children report takes the position that the mortality rate of teen pregnancy in developing nations is as much a women's issue as it is a global child welfare concern.

In Africa, the continent with the most critical level of maternal mortality, women have a 1 in 26 lifetime chance of dying during childbirth. According to UNICEF this risk is 4 times higher than in Asia, the region with the second highest maternal mortality rates, and 300 times greater than in industrialized nations. It is estimated that 80% or more of these deaths could be prevented with proper medical care.

"The State of the World's Children 2009" says that the younger a girl is when she becomes pregnant, the greater the health risks for her and her infant.
Worldwide, more than 60 million women who are currently aged 20-24 were married before they were 18, with the most child marriages being in South Asia and in Africa.

If a mother is under the age of 18, her infant's risk of dying in its first year of life is 60 percent greater than that of an infant born to a mother older than 19.

In addition, the report says adolescent wives are susceptible to violence, abuse and exploitation. Young brides are often forced to drop out of school, have few work opportunities and little chance to influence their own lives.

"If young girls are not in school, they are more vulnerable," South African Health Minister Barbara Hogan said at the launch. "It's not just a health issue; it is about the status of young women and girls."

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Uwe Paschen

at 01:43 on January 16th, 2009

Tragic, however I do think that the reason less Woman die giving birth being older then 20 is in part due to the fact that many died younger and never reached 20.

In most countries today 16 is no longer a child though. Only in North America, Japan, South Korea, Western Europe we conceder that age group to be children nowadays. Even in Eastern Europe a 16 Year is often married. in Africa even at 14. Initiation into adult life is usually 14 for Males and Females in most African countries still today. In the industrialize World we are luckier then we some times realize, why helping others is so important since we can help if we want to.