DHAKA: Teen pregnancies in the developing world are declining, but more than 7 million girls under the age of 18 are still giving birth each year, according to a United Nations report.

The UN Population Fund expressed particular alarm about the dangers facing girls 14 or younger, who account for 2 million of the 7.3 million births to women under 18 in developing countries.

This group faces the gravest long-term social and health consequences from giving birth as teens.

The report released Wednesday, looked at births to women under 18 worldwide, the underlying causes of teen pregnancy and what can be done to curb the problem, according to The Straits Times.

‘The reality is that adolescent pregnancy is most often not the result of a deliberate choice, but rather the absence of choices, and of circumstances beyond a girl’s control,’ said UNFPA executive director, Dr Babatunde Osotimehin.

‘It is a consequence of little or no access to school, employment, quality information and health care.’

BDST: 1709 HRS, OCT 30, 2013
RoR/SRS