On Thursday, a report by Save the Children organization has showed that annually, a large number of teenagers are succumbing to death because of pregnancy related issues. In the report, it has been clearly stated that 15-year-old girl has higher chances of succumbing to death during pregnancy as compared to 20- years- old lady.

The report says, “Babies born to younger mums are also at far greater risk and around one million babies born to adolescent girls die every year”. While pointing to India, the report found that 77 teenage mothers out of 1,000 succumb to death prematurely. It further noted that India has highest maternal mortality rate all over the world.

There are many countries where the practice of early marriage of girls takes place in families. Such families are actually ignorant about the adverse consequences of getting their daughter married at an early age.

There is a need to make families aware about the risk of teenage pregnancy. It has further come to light that infants born by a mother who is below the age of 18 are at a higher risk of dying prematurely. It is estimated that about 10 million girls under the age group of 18 get married, every year.