World Health Organization (WHO) Namaste and greetings from the World Health Organization. My name is Chandra-Mouli. To mark World Contraception Day 2022, Elsie Akwara and I would like to share 5 messages from WHO’s just updated adolescent pregnancy factsheet, with you.
- Globally, levels of adolescent pregnancy and childbearing have declined from 64.5 to 42.5 births per 1000 women aged 15-19 between 2000 and 2021. However, rates of change have been slow and uneven across regions.
- Globally levels of child marriage have declined by 12% points between 1995 and 2020, and levels of contraceptive use by adolescents have risen by 9.4% points between 2000 and 2017, contributing to a reduction in adolescent pregnancy and childbearing, however, progress has been slow and uneven.
- Chile, England, Ethiopia and Thailand are part of a small but growing number of countries that have put in place successful national government-led adolescent pregnancy prevention programmes. As part of multicomponent programmes, they increased access to and uptake of contraception by adolescents by integrating adolescent-friendly health service elements into national health systems. These countries show what good science, bold leadership and strong management can achieve.
- Even though there has been progress globally, some countries, communities and families are being left behind. Adolescent births are more likely to occur among the poorest, least educated and those who live in remote rural and poor urban areas. Those who live in contexts of instability and conflict face special challenges.
- With solid positioning on global and regional agendas, a rich and growing body of evidence, feeding into useful policy and programme support tools, assistance from technical agencies and financing mechanisms, and an increasing number of countries stepping up action, the prospects for further progress are excellent.
- Our thanks. Do check out the just updated WHO adolescent pregnancy factsheet and the blog piece.
