Bangalore : Rise in teenage pregnancies

Bengaluru:The number of teenage pregnancies in Karnataka has been annually increasing over the past years. In 2014 , the data shows 22,122 babies born to mothers aging less than 20 years. These numbers up trended to 34,862 in 2015. It rose again to 35,817 in 2016. There is a 200% increase between 2011 and 2016 in teenage pregnancies. Various medical professionals and activist groups say that the main cause of these teenage pregnancies is a lack of awareness and emphasis on sexual education.

A massive 73,531 teen pregnancies are reported in Urban areas out of the 92801 reported.as there’s an increasing acceptance of casual relationships and exposure to various cultures.. As an increasing education level suggests better decisions from teens, the numbers differ. “Every individual should understand the repercussions of unsafe sex” a sociologist suggests.Doctors say Teen mothers are at a higher risk of pre-eclampsia , anaemia , low birthweight and post-natal depression.

The available data also shows the number of teenage pregnancies of Hindus increased while the numbers dipped among Christians and Muslims dipped. Hindu families reported 75,888 teenage pregnancies compared to 15,300 born into Muslim families and 80 into Christian families.

Bengaluru , in a latest government report, showed a 165% increase in teenage mothers from 2014 to 2016. Comparatively , Mysuru jumped 561% from 2014 to 2015 and then dipped to 2,237 in 2016. The other urban centers with a significant growth in teenage pregnancies are Mangaluru , Belagavi and Hubballi-Dharwad.

Experts urge government agencies and policymakers to actively play a role by taking measures to make contraceptives widely available to designing sexual education programs for teens to help them make smart decisions and choose the best course of action.