The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a comprehensive guideline aimed at preventing adolescent pregnancy and its associated health risks. The new guideline is a crucial step towards tackling the leading cause of death globally among 15- to 19-year-old girls.
Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO, emphasized that early pregnancies can have severe physical and psychological consequences for girls and young women.
“Tackling this issue means creating conditions where girls and young women can thrive by ensuring they can stay in school, be protected from violence and coercion, access sexual and reproductive health services that uphold their rights, and have real choices about their futures,” she said.
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The guideline highlights the alarming fact that over 21 million adolescent girls become pregnant each year in low- and middle-income countries, with around half of these pregnancies being unintended.
Dr. Allotey noted that early pregnancy can create cycles of intergenerational poverty, impact girls’ education and social connections, and lead to serious health risks, including higher rates of infections and preterm births.
To address these challenges, the guideline recommends holistic efforts to provide viable alternatives to early marriage by strengthening girls’ education, savings, and employment prospects. Dr. Allotey emphasized that laws prohibiting marriage below the age of 18, consistent with human rights standards, and community engagement to prevent child marriage are crucial steps towards reducing adolescent pregnancies.
Dr. Sheri Bastien, Scientist for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health at WHO, stressed that education is critical in changing the future for young girls. “Empowering adolescents, both boys and girls, to understand consent, take charge of their health, and challenge major gender inequalities, is essential in driving down rates of child marriage and early pregnancy,” she said.
The guideline highlights the need to ensure adolescents access high-quality, adolescent-responsive sexual and reproductive health services, including contraceptive options. Dr. Bastien emphasized that comprehensive sexuality education is essential for both boys and girls to ensure they know where to access such services and how to use different types of contraception.
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By implementing these recommendations, the WHO aims to reduce adolescent pregnancies and related health complications, ultimately promoting the well-being and empowerment of girls and young women worldwide.
Meta AI response: WHO Unveils New Guideline to Combat Adolescent Pregnancy and Related Health Complications The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a comprehensive guideline aimed at preventing adolescent pregnancy and its associated health risks.
The new guideline is a crucial step towards tackling the leading cause of death globally among 15 to 19-year-old girls. Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO, emphasized that early pregnancies can have severe physical and psychological consequences for girls and young women.
“Tackling this issue means creating conditions where girls and young women can thrive by ensuring they can stay in school, be protected from violence and coercion, access sexual and reproductive health services that uphold their rights, and have real choices about their futures,” she said.
The guideline highlights the alarming fact that over 21 million adolescent girls become pregnant each year in low- and middle-income countries, with around half of these pregnancies being unintended. Dr. Allotey noted that early pregnancy can create cycles of intergenerational poverty, impact girls’ education and social connections, and lead to serious health risks, including higher rates of infections and preterm births.
To address these challenges, the guideline recommends holistic efforts to provide viable alternatives to early marriage by strengthening girls’ education, savings, and employment prospects. Dr. Allotey emphasized that laws prohibiting marriage below the age of 18, consistent with human rights standards, and community engagement to prevent child marriage are crucial steps towards reducing adolescent pregnancies.
Dr. Sheri Bastien, Scientist for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health at WHO, stressed that education is critical in changing the future for young girls. “Empowering adolescents, both boys and girls, to understand consent, take charge of their health, and challenge major gender inequalities is essential in driving down rates of child marriage and early pregnancy,” she said.
The guideline highlights the need to ensure adolescents access high-quality, adolescent-responsive sexual and reproductive health services, including contraceptive options.
Dr. Bastien emphasized that comprehensive sexuality education is essential for both boys and girls to ensure they know where to access such services and how to use different types of contraception.
By implementing these recommendations, the WHO aims to reduce adolescent pregnancies and related health complications, ultimately promoting the well-being and empowerment of girls and young women worldwide.
