Adolescent pregnancy represents the majority of pregnancies in developing countries, including Brazil. Here, the rate of pregnant women under the age of 17 is 57%, slightly less than in sub-Saharan African countries, where it exceeds 60%. These data are in a report by the United Nations Population Fund (Unfpa), released this week.
The study provides an overview of all developing countries. In them, more than 30% of pregnancies are teenagers. Regarding Brazil, the study also points out that, in addition to high levels of child pregnancies, the tendency has been to increase over time. In the period evaluated by Unfpa, Brazil registered a 10% growth in births among girls.
According to Unfpa’s leader for adolescent girls, Satvika Chalasani, the result from Brazil is in line with regional surveys. According to the entity, the region of Latin America and the Caribbean is the only one in the world where the age of first sexual intercourse is falling. In other words, you lose your virginity earlier and earlier.
The study makes recommendations to developing countries to reduce the number of pregnancies in childhood and adolescence. These include the need to provide comprehensive sex education, social support and quality health services, as well as economic support for families and involving local organizations.
Unfpa also believes that reducing early pregnancies also involves adopting a supportive policy and legal framework that recognizes the rights, abilities and needs of adolescents, particularly marginalized adolescent girls.
*With information from UN News
