Teenage pregnancy: a public health problem Part I

The situation of adolescent pregnancy in the world is not entirely encouraging. According to the World Health Organization, 16 million adolescents between 15 and 19 years of age give birth every year. In fact, Latin America and the Caribbean is the region with the highest adolescent fertility rate after Sub-Saharan Africa. At the national level, for example, we have one of the highest percentages (20%) of young mothers: a worrying situation because many of them live in poverty.

Pregnancy in girls and adolescents is a public health problem because it is related to the continuation of the cycle of poverty and to the physical, mental and social health of this population. It is a poverty trap that also affects the achievement of the life projects of children, adolescents and young people, and that requires multiple actions from different scenarios that manage to control risks and ensure sexual and reproductive rights.

In addition, teenage pregnancies have negative consequences on mothers or newborns, problems such as anemia, malnutrition or infectious diseases can occur at the physical level. At the mental level, anxiety disorders, personality development, eating disorders or depression have been documented. Even after childbirth, existing mental problems may intensify due to the adjustment that adolescents must make in their new stage of motherhood.

What has been done?

Since the last decade, institutional attempts to reduce teenage pregnancy in Colombia have intensified. With the Conpes 147 of 2012, which established guidelines to reduce teenage pregnancy, and the National Development Plan 2014-2018, which obliges governors and municipal mayors to incorporate Sexual and Reproductive Rights policies, linked to the National Strategy for the Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy, this problem has been placed on the political agenda of governments, health professionals and civil society.

In this sense, institutional and political commitments exist, but it is also essential to recognize the importance of promoting sexual and reproductive rights. Since adolescent pregnancy occurs in a context of inadequate sexual education, and is more frequent in low socioeconomic conditions and exclusion, it is essential that both the State and society make an effort to consolidate accessible and sustainable life projects that keep young people away from motherhood and fatherhood, and thus contribute to overcoming poverty conditions.

Some relevant data on teenage pregnancy in Colombia:

The average age of pregnancy in children, adolescents and young people is 14 years old.

There is a higher risk of pregnancy in adolescent women living in rural areas.

Rural women are mothers before the age of 18 and have on average more children than their urban peers.

The use of contraceptive methods in rural areas is lower than in urban areas.

The percentage of voluntary termination of pregnancy (VTP) is higher in urban areas.

We invite you to read the second part of this article: Subsequent Pregnancy in Adolescents: A Public Health Problem Part II.