Understanding and Addressing Adolescent Pregnancy

Every year, there are over 3.7 million births to adolescent girls aged 15-19 in Asia and the Pacific. Adolescent fertility rates are now highest in the Pacific (51 births per 1,000 girls) and Southeast Asia (43 births per 1,000 girls), compared with South Asia (26 births per 1,000 girls), where there has been a significant reduction in the last two decades, and East Asia (7 births per 1,000 girls). Adolescent pregnancy has profound implications for the health and wellbeing of young people, and that of future generations. Addressing adolescent pregnancy requires a comprehensive, youth-centred, multisectoral approach to respond to the interrelated drivers of early pregnancy, and reduce associated adverse outcomes for girls and their infants. Key is the meaningful engagement of young people to understand the factors contributing to pregnancy and identify effective approaches that respond to their needs and take into account their agency.