Real Talk: Teen Pregnancy - Facts, Fears & the Future - Page 2

Originally posted by: Viswasruti

Anu, what a great write-up; it really hits the heart and mind with your carefully chosen phrases and words to draw attention to this socially vital topic.

I may have turned to Google for research and looked up how articles on this topic are written but those were all mechanic and straightforward ... it took me a good while to reflect, fine-tune, and shape them in a way that would leave an emotional impact ... especially since threads like these often reach people beyond just the IF members.

Thank you so much for such a heartfelt comment ... it genuinely means a lot ... not just to me but to the entire CC team

A special shoutout to Sevenstreaks (Sandhya) .. whose beautiful graphics took the whole write-up to another level and made it look even more appealing

Replies in whatever shade this is

Originally posted by: Clochette

This forum has so many very interesting corners one may never discover. So, I'm happy that thread got an announcement in the BW-forum

I would like to stress that a teenage pregnancy happens mostly because of the part the male plays, his libido and the urgent wish to - generally - follow more his own satisfaction than to consider probable consequences for the girl.

>> Absolutely agree ... the focus is often put entirely on the girl... while the male's role... decisions, and responsibility are ignored

The regions, Anu mentioned as having the highest rates of teenage pregnancies, also have a very high level of male dominance behaviour / lack of respect towards the female part of the population.

>> Not often individual .. it's systemic

Leading to higher vulnerability

So, which measures should (and could) be taken in situ to bring a change towards a balanced view of gender 'power'? Where all should/could education happen additional to the one in pedagogic institutions? Where and who in society can be involved in bringing the change? What should/could be done in India?

I feel awareness begins at every level... Apart from schools, education should happen at home, in community centers, etc... Parents, teachers, leaders, content creators ... everyone can contribute. And everyone SHOULD contribute.

equally important to give boys the right values, not just tell girls what not to do

Originally posted by: nushhkiee

I feel awareness begins at every level... Apart from schools, education should happen at home, in community centers, etc... Parents, teachers, leaders, content creators ... everyone can contribute. And everyone SHOULD contribute.

equally important to give boys the right values, not just tell girls what not to do

bold: To me, it seems the most crucial point...especially the values...but that has also be lived by those who teach it...so the whole social structure is effected by a change...and for a kid, the structure starts with the primary persons/care givers, but for the adults, everything in their life contributes...how change the mindset of adults??? Especially on such a crucial level emotions are on...because everything relative to sexuality comes from emotions/impulsions - the mind can - rather easily - get overpowered by emotions linked to sexuality.

Very important and interesting topic. More awareness is needed, especially in low-income countries and villages.

It is a sad state of affairs but, teen marriages and teen pregnancies are still happening.

I don't think the kids have a say in these matters in most of the cases.

4 or 5 years ago I heard someone arranging a wedding for their barely out of school child because her grand mother was unwell and expressed a wish to see her grand daughter's wedding before passing away. The girl got married and lo and behold, got pregnant within months and gave birth to a baby the next year. I think the girl was only 17 or 18 when she had a baby.

The society needs education on so many matters. This is definitely one of them.

Nice topic Anushkaa and thanks for the tag Madhu.

Cheers..

Girls aged 19 or less are themselves very young and their babies land up with too many complications .

Babies born to teenage mothers are more likely to have low birth weight, which can lead to various health problems.


Teen pregnancies are associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, which can lead to complications like respiratory distress syndrome and other health issues in the baby.


The baby's growth may be restricted in the womb, leading to a smaller-than-normal baby at birth. IUGR


Teen pregnancies are associated with a higher risk of stillbirth.


Babies born to teenage mothers may be at a higher risk of neonatal sepsis, a serious blood infection.


Teen pregnancies have been linked to an increased risk of congenital birth defects.


Premature babies may develop respiratory distress syndrome, a lung condition that can be life-threatening

Originally posted by: Viswasruti

Anu, every word and line exemplifies the Crazy Creatives' hard work, dedication, and passion towards educating, supporting, cheering, and greeting each and every member of this India Forums on all major occasions such as festivals and socially relevant such topics.

I'd like to thank the entire CC group, including Administrator Vijay, for their dedication and hard work. Vijay expressed a strong desire for the group to receive recognition and appreciation from all the IF members for CCs' outstanding work.

Anu, what a great write-up; it really hits the heart and mind with your carefully chosen phrases and words to draw attention to this socially vital topic.

Such threads demonstrate how the IF members are a forward-thinking group that engage in discussing not only serials and movies, but also how we (esp, the Crazy Creatives) take on the societal obligation of educating members on many pressing issues.

The efficient and compassionate Heads, Yuvika and Shreya as well as their writers and graphicers, provide invaluable guidance and support through the CC group to us.

Whenever I see the threads posted by this CC group, I always think like -- "Here is the creamy layer of IF coming together once again to lead the debates and discussions by writers and highly creative graphicers in the right direction."

Earlier, I know only Koeli, Nabila and Angel-Jot as CC members.

Salutations to all the brilliant brains here, including our Vijay along with the first CC head, Diva, (on July16th, 2006) who is the founder of this CC group!

Instead of healthy discussions being held in the states/communities with poor literacy rates specially health, hygiene and sex education, teen pregnancies are still happening with a culture of silence.

The spectra has one end with poor girls forced to marry young and bear child within first year of marriage and the other end have teens from tier 1 and tier 2 cities who are well educated with access to contraceptives but still face unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion when everyone's entitled to reproductive rights.

We have amplitudes of data and resources to make people aware and inform them about their rights, but still it is of no use if it doesn't reaches the target population and changes their approach towards the sensitivity of the issue.

Teen pregnancy is not just a health concern—it’s a multifaceted social issue rooted in education, gender dynamics, poverty, and cultural beliefs. While rates are declining in some parts of the world, progress is uneven. Addressing the root causes and providing compassionate, informed, and sustained support for teenagers is essential.

With the right knowledge, resources, and community effort, we can ensure that teens—regardless of their circumstances—can choose if, when, and how to become parents.

Call to Action

Let’s break the silence, challenge the stigma, and invest in the education and empowerment of our youth. Because preventing teen pregnancy isn’t just about avoiding birth—it’s about protecting dreams, choices, and futures.

Sharing the ss from the report shared by NFHS-5 under MoHFW regarding teen pregnancies in India.

Ref. International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) and ICF. 2021.

National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019-21: India: Volume 1. Mumbai: IIPS