Adolescent pregnancy and early parenting

Abstract

Adolescent pregnancy and parenting are considered a worldwide public health and social challenge (WHO 2020). Adolescents (boys and girls, aged 10–19 years) constitute approximately 18% (1.25 billion) of the world population with variations between regions ranging from 12% in high-income countries to 23% in low-income countries (Vogel et al. 2015; UNFPA 2021). Although adolescent pregnancies and births have declined in the past three decades globally, approximately 12 million girls (15–19 years) still give birth each year, that is, an estimated 11% of all global births; 95% of these births occur in low- and middle-income countries (WHO 2020; UNFPA 2021). Maternal settings are considered as the second leading cause of mortality among adolescent pregnancies (UNFPA 2021). Additionally, according to Neal et al. (2012), about 2.5 million births occur to girls under 16 years of age in low-income countries and it is this age group (12–15 years) that are exposed to the highest health risk (Neal et al. 2012). The chapter reviews adolescent pregnancy and its effects on health, social and environmental challenges; consequences of early parenting; transition to parenthood; supporting of adolescent parents; and health professionals’ contribution to preventing adolescent pregnancies.