Socioeconomic Differences in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health : Childbearing

Yarger, Jennifer ; Lara, Diana ; Decker, Mara ; Brindis, Claire

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES;    ADOLESCENCE;    ADOLESCENT;    ADOLESCENT CHILDBEARING;    ADOLESCENT FERTILITY;   

RP-ID  :  93550

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Adolescent Sexual and ReproductiveHealth (ASRH) is one of five areas of focus of the WorldBanks Reproductive Health Action Plan 2010 - 2015 (RHAP),which recognizes the importance of addressing ASRH as adevelopment issue with important implications for povertyreduction. Delaying childbearing and preventing unplannedpregnancies during adolescence has been shown to improvehealth outcomes and increase opportunities for schooling,future employment, and earnings (Greene and Merrick, 2005).Delaying childbearing and preventing unplanned pregnanciesimproves health outcomes and increases opportunities forschooling, future employment, and earnings. A couple of keymessages were relayed in this brief. An analysis of datafrom six countries showed that adolescent childbearing isclosely tied to marital status. Around half (ranging from 42percent in Nepal to 55 percent in Nigeria) of ever-marriedadolescent women have given birth. In comparison,non-marital adolescent childbearing is rare in all countriesstudied. In Bangladesh and Burkina Faso, childbearing amongever-married adolescent women is positively associated withrural residence, less wealth, and less education.