In sub-Saharan Africa, about five million pregnancies occur among 15 to 19-year-olds every year; often they are unwanted. The risk of dying during pregnancy or during childbirth is twice as high for teenage girls as for women over 20 - their bodies are immature. For girls under 15, the probability of dying is even five times as high. In the poorest countries of the world, complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the main reason for teenage girls' deaths.

Unsafe abortions are widespread 

Every year, some 20 million unsafe abortions are conducted, i.e. carried out under precarious health conditions. Up to 70,000 women die of the consequences every year - almost exclusively in developing countries. Thousands suffer from serious complications which may result in chronic pain and infertility. Young women between 15 and 19 years old account for at least a quarter of unsafe abortions and related deaths. The majority of the girls who have an unsafe abortion conducted become pregnant due to a lack of information or access to contraceptives. Studies have shown that improved access to family planning can prevent unwanted pregnancies and reduce the number of abortions. 

Teenage girls are more vulnerable to health complications

Young women are more likely to suffer from health complications such as hypertension and anaemia during pregnancy than adult women. These risks may be avoided by good prenatal care and appropriate nutrition; however, in developing countries many young women have no access to this. Early pregnancy not only results in health risks; young mothers must also frequently drop out of school or vocational training. This reduces their chances of obtaining their own sources of income.