Complications from pregnancy and child birth continue to be a leading cause of death among adolescent girls aged 15–19 in low-and middle-income countries. Today, on World Population Day, USAID joins the global community in drawing attention to adolescent pregnancy and the need to increase access to reproductive health education and services for today’s youth.
About 16 million girls aged 15–19 give birth each year. Adolescent pregnancy can have serious health consequences for both the mother and baby. Stillbirths and death are 50 percent more likely for babies born to mothers younger than 20 than for babies born to mothers in their 20s. Young women who avoid unintended pregnancy are more likely to stay in school, participate in the workforce, and have healthier, better-educated children. USAID is committed to promoting and protecting reproductive rights for all people and especially for the world’s adolescents and youth.
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