Pregnancy is the most vulnerable time for women, especially for teen mothers. A number of studies suggest that adolescent mothers experience significantly higher rates of depression, both prenatal and postpartum, than adult mothers and their non-pregnant peers.
Early marriage, intimate partner violence, pressure to give birth to a son, and lack of financial independence are some of the factors driving young mothers to commit suicide today. Studies have shown that 11 to 20 percent of pregnancies are a direct result of rape, while approximately 60% of teen mothers have unwanted sexual experiences that make them pregnant, sometimes leading to social rejection and forces them to commit suicide.
According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), suicide is one of the leading causes of death of adolescent girls during pregnancy in India, with the suicide rate in India now reaching 16.5 per 100,000 population. Whereas, a study published in the Lancet medical journal indicated that the suicide rate among Indian women and girls is twice the global average. While, mortality risks to adolescent mothers have not been accurately or comprehensively quantified. Frequently cited statistic is that girls younger than 15 years are several times more likely to die from maternal causes than women in their early 20s.
It is important to note that early pregnancies have major health consequences for adolescent mothers and their babies. Among adolescent girls, pregnancy and childbirth complications are the leading causes of death globally, in which India leads a list of 10 countries that together account for 60% of global maternal deaths, stillbirths and newborn deaths, and 51% of live births globally.
Nearly 17 million underage women become mothers every year in India, resulting in the deaths of approximately 10 women every day. Whereas, the National health Survey 5 (2019-21) shows that there are only 43 live births occurring per 1,000 women age group 15-19. They often face significant physical, emotional, environmental, and psychosocial stressors and are at risk for a number of mental health concerns that can affect them and their children.
On the other hand, health experts say the government has done little to address this problem.
Adolescent girls are at greater risk of complications if they become pregnant because they are still growing themselves. Moreover, child brides are less likely to receive proper medical care while pregnant or to deliver in a health facility, compared to women married as adults.
Such adolescent mothers and their babies face serious health complications like anemia, preeclampsia, postpartum depression, obstetric fistula, preterm birth, neonatal mortality, low birth weight, etc.
Additionally, teenage pregnancies are more frequently seen in marginalized communities that suffer from poverty, lack of educational opportunities, and unemployment. In India, adolescent girls with minimal education are five times more likely to become mothers than girls with higher levels of education, especially in rural India where childbearing is more likely to occur at a younger age than in urban areas.
Maternal mortality and poor access to healthcare is disproportionately higher in rural populations of the poorer states of India. 'The highest percentage of teenage pregnancies among all states and union territories was reported by Tripura (22%), followed by West Bengal (16%), Andhra Pradesh (13%), Assam (12%), Bihar (11%), and Jharkhand (10%). Of the 36 states and union territories, 11 witnessed a surge in the number of teenage pregnancies and suicide cases.
The Indian government has taken several measures to address the issue of maternal mortality and teenage pregnancy. The government has launched various schemes and programs to improve maternal and child health, such as the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, which provides financial assistance to pregnant and lactating mothers, and the Janani Suraksha Yojana, which provides cash incentives to women who give birth in health facilities. The government has also launched initiatives to improve the education and empowerment of girls, such as the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign, which aims to promote the education of girls and prevent female foeticide.
The Indian government has made enormous strides since the turn of the century in reducing overall maternal mortality, reducing deaths by more than half, the success and impact of these initiatives can vary across different regions and communities. Challenges in implementation, limited access to healthcare and educational resources, cultural and societal norms, and other systemic issues still hinder the effectiveness of government efforts. Additionally, the 'suicide prevention action plan' devised in 2018 has never been implemented yet.
Although India has successfully reduced the proportion of teenage pregnancies by half between 2005-06 and 2015-16 (from 16% to 7.9% respectively), the latest National Family Health Survey 5 (NFHS 5) data shows that the teenage childbearing rate has declined marginally from 8% to 7% between 2015-16 and 2019-21but still a long way to get success.
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