Pregnancy is worst killer of teenage girls globally- Population Commission

Published: July 12,2013

Children born to teenage mothers are more at risk.

The Chairman, National Population Commission, NPC, Festus Odimegwu, has lamented the high rate of child mortality owing to teenage pregnancy, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria.

The NPC Chairman’s statement was read by the Plateau State National Commissioner of the NPC, Cecelia Dapet, at a press conference on the commemoration of the 2013 World Population Day, held at the Plateau Specialist Hospital in the state.

“Pregnancy is the biggest killer of teenage girl’s worldwide; the cause of 50,000 deaths of teenage girls every year,” Mr. Odimegwu said.

According to him, statistics have shown that 50 per cent of child mortality rate was among babies born to teenage mothers.

“Stillbirth and newborn deaths are 50 per cent higher among infants born to adolescent mothers than among those born to mothers aged 20-29 years. About 95 per cent of adolescent pregnancies occur in low and middle income countries worldwide,” he said.

Ms. Dapet, while reading the text of the NPC chairman, stated that recent demographic survey conducted by the World Health Organization, WHO, indicated that the world population was rapidly increasing due to unwanted and teenage pregnancies, particularly in developing countries.

“According to the World Health Organization, WHO, about 16 million girls age 15 to 19 years and two million girls under the age of 15 give birth every year,” the NPC boss’ statement read.

He also said teenage girls between the age of 15 to 19 years in many low income and middle-income countries are at risk of being impregnated and abandoned by their teenage partners’ thereby risking death for the teen mother and her child.

He disclosed that the northern part of Nigeria has the higher rate in teenage pregnancy compared to other parts of the country due to custom, traditional and religious beliefs.

“Katsina State stands out as the state with the highest rate of teenage pregnancy and motherhood at 65 percent,” Mr. Odimegwu said.

Ms. Dapet used the avenue to call on parents, guardians and organizations charged with the responsibilities of childcare to take more proactive actions in educating their children of both sexes on teenage pregnancy and its attendant risks as a means of minimizing maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria.