Also, the sporadic and unplanned nature of adolescent sexual activity can be an obstacle to consistent contraceptive use. Surveys indicate that 12 percent to 42 percent of married adolescent women in less developed countries who say they would prefer to space or limit births are not using family planning. If sexually active, unmarried adolescents were included in the surveys, the unmet need percentage would certainly be higher. 7 Thirty-three percent of women in less developed countries give birth before age 20, ranging from a low of 8 percent in East Asia to 55 percent in West Africa. Young women and their children face serious health consequences from early pregnancy and childbearing.
More adolescent girls die from pregnancy-related causes than from any other cause.
Infants of young mothers are also more likely to be premature and have low birth weights. In many countries, the risk of death during the first year of life is 1.5 times higher for infants born to mothers under age 20 than for those born to mothers ages 20 to 29. Because adolescents have less experience, resources, and knowledge about prenatal care and childbirth than older women, they and their children suffer when obstetric emergencies arise. Because sexual violence and exploitation are abuse of power, young women are especially at risk , and the violations can have devastating and long-lasting consequences. 9 Since girls are more likely than boys to be subjected to sexual violence, girls are at risk of becoming infected with HIV and other STIs at a much younger age.