Our world is no stranger to dangers of child marriage. Nevertheless, the widespread prevalence of this practice has continued into the modern day. Currently, more issues have come to light, with child marriage and adolescent pregnancies developing a concerning relationship.
Globally, the United Nations finds that 650 million women were married as children. Of these women, 76% will have their first child before the age of 18. Girls Not Brides, a global organization working to end child marriage, finds that the vast majority of these pregnancies occur without adequate health support.
This lack of healthcare services can result in severe complications, such as obstructed labor, obstetric fistula, and eclampsia. These conditions contribute to the high maternal and infant mortality rates seen in low-income countries.
Adolescent mothers are at an increased risk of dying during childbirth, and their babies are more likely to be born prematurely or with low birth weight. These infants face higher rates of neonatal complications, increasing the likelihood of lifelong health issues or even death. These young mothers often face intense societal pressures to bear children, with the vast majority not being educated about healthy contraceptive practices.
In order to combat restrictive abortion laws and unintentional pregnancies these women are forced to turn to unqualified and dangerous abortion methods. This contributes to the global 8-11% of maternal deaths emerging from unsafe abortions.
Ultimately, reducing the staggering neonatal and maternal complications and mortality rates must start with addressing child marriage. Cultures where adolescent marriage is common practice continue to perpetuate gender inequalities and endanger the lives of young girls. In the future, streamlining education and promoting safe reproductive health will be vital to securing the futures of millions of women.
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