' Teenage pregnancy | Plan International
Young mother and her baby, Ecuador.

Teenage pregnancy

Adolescent pregnancies are a global problem but occur most often in poorer and marginalised communities. Many girls face considerable pressure to marry early and become mothers while they are still a child. 

Teenage pregnancy increases when girls are denied the right to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and well-being. 

Girls must be able to make their own decisions about their bodies and futures and have access to appropriate healthcare services and education.
 

What causes teenage pregnancy?

  • Lack of information about sexual and reproductive health and rights
  • Inadequate access to services tailored to young people
  • Family, community and social pressure to marry 
  • Sexual violence
  • Child, early and forced marriage, which can be both a cause and a consequence 
  • Lack of education or dropping out of school

Other factors contributing to adolescent pregnancy

Approximately 90% of births to girls aged 15-19 in developing countries occur within early marriage where there is often an imbalance of power, no access to contraception and pressure on girls to prove their fertility.

Factors such as parental income and the extent of a girl’s education also contribute. Girls who have received minimal education are 5 times more likely to become a mother than those with higher levels of education. Pregnant girls often drop out of school, limiting opportunities for future employment and perpetuating the cycle of poverty. In many cases, girls perceive pregnancy to be a better option than continuing their education.

In addition, the unique risks faced by girls during emergencies increase the chances of them becoming pregnant. Factors include the desire to compensate for the loss of a child, reduced access to information and contraception and increased sexual violence.

Advice app helps teens tackle pregnancy

A new smartphone app is helping combat teenage pregnancy in Timor Leste by providing teenagers with sexual and reproductive health information. 

Learn more

What are the effects of teenage pregnancy?

What are the effects of teenage pregnancy?

How does teenage pregnancy affect girls?

Adolescent pregnancy remains a major contributor to maternal and child mortality. Complications relating to pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for girls aged 15-19 globally. Pregnant girls and adolescents also face other health risks and complications due to their immature bodies. Babies born to younger mothers are also at greater risk. 

For many adolescents, pregnancy and childbirth are neither planned, nor wanted. In countries where abortion is prohibited or highly restricted, adolescents typically resort to unsafe abortion, putting their health and lives at risk. Some 3.9 million unsafe abortions occur each year to girls aged 15-19 in developing regions.

Adolescent pregnancy can also have negative social and economic effects on girls, their families and communities. Unmarried pregnant adolescents may face stigma or rejection by parents and peers as well as threats of violence. Girls who become pregnant before age 18 are also more likely to experience violence within a marriage or partnership.

Tackling teen pregnancy in Nicaragua

Nicaragua has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Latin America. With the support of our Girl Power Project, young people are now educating their peers on the risks of becoming teen parents.

Read more

How does Plan International support girls

We are committed to tackling adolescent pregnancy, especially among younger adolescents (aged 10-14) who are most at risk and yet often overlooked. We also support girls who have already become mothers.

By raising girls’ awareness of their sexual and reproductive health and rights, protecting them from abuse and connecting them with education and health services, we support the key decisions they make about their futures and bodies.

We call on governments to strengthen national health systems, implement comprehensive education on sexuality and relationships in and out of schools, and provide affordable, safe contraception to tackle the root causes of adolescent pregnancy. We also demand governments do more to support pregnant girls and young mothers to continue and complete their education.

Family planning is a human right

We want all girls and women to make their own sexual and reproductive health choices. Not least because it’s a human right. 

Read the blog

  • Each year, 16 million girls aged between 15-19 give birth in developing regions
  • Pregnancy and childbirth complications are the biggest cause of death for girls aged 15 to 19 globally
  • Half of pregnancies among girls aged 15–19 living in developing regions are unintended.
  • Every year, 3.9 million girls aged 15-19 undergo unsafe abortions.
  • 3 in 5 maternal deaths occur in conflict, displacement or disaster situations.

Related pages