For specific data, see Table 1, columns 6 and 7. Overall, young women with at least seven years of schooling are two to three times more likely than young women with less schooling to postpone having a baby until after age 20. While young women are better educated today than women 20 years ago, they still lag far behind their male counterparts. A Significant Proportion Are Unplanned Despite the progress over the past 20 years, it is still common for young women to have their first child during their adolescent years. And, a high proportion of births to adolescents are either earlier than they wished or not wanted at all.
Unplanned births are also high in developed countries.
In the United States, three-quarters of the births to adolescents are reported to be unplanned. Help young people understand the possible consequences of sexual relationships and encourage them to take responsibility for their actions. Institute or increase public-education and media programs that explain the health, economic and societal value of postponing childbearing until after adolescence. Permit and encourage young pregnant women to continue and complete secondary school, during pregnancy and after the birth. Institute or expand sex education programs in schools.