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India, home to a third of the world’s child brides, continues to grapple with the interconnected challenges of teenage pregnancy and child marriage. Despite progress in reducing underage marriages — from 47 per cent in 2005 to 24 per cent in 2020 — the country still sees over 6 per cent of adolescent girls becoming mothers or pregnant before adulthood, according to a new report.
The paper, Teenage Pregnancy and Motherhood in India: Exploring Status and Identifying Prevention and Mitigation Strategies, shed light on the enduring challenge of adolescent pregnancies in the country. The report, published by the non-profit ActionAid, identified entrenched societal norms, economic vulnerability and insufficient sexual education as key drivers of teenage pregnancies.
Adolescent pregnancy, a major public health issue occurring among girls aged 10-19 years, is intricately tied to child marriage and gender inequality, the study highlighted. Although India has made progress in reducing child marriage, teenage pregnancies remain alarmingly high.
Poverty remains a persistent factor, with low-income families viewing early marriage as a means of reducing financial burdens or avoiding the perceived risks of violence against adolescent girls, the paper found. Social customs often pressure young brides to prove their marital success through early motherhood.
Gender inequality amplifies the issue, as deeply entrenched patriarchal values limit girls’ access to education and health services. States like West Bengal, Bihar and Rajasthan — where child marriage rates are alarmingly high — highlight the cultural and regional nuances of the crisis.
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019-21 had found that 6.8 per cent of women aged 15-19 were either pregnant or had given birth, with considerable variation across states. West Bengal and Bihar recorded some of the highest rates, at 16 per cent and 11 per cent respectively.
ActionAid carried out a study in these states due to their varying rates of teenage pregnancy. Two districts with high prevalence and two with low prevalence of teenage pregnancy were selected in each state based on NFHS-5 data. The survey included multifaceted factors influencing teenage pregnancy, considering individual, interpersonal, community and societal levels.
“Teenage pregnancy and adolescent motherhood continues to be a multifaceted issue that intersects with deep-rooted social, cultural and economic factors,” Sandeep Chachra, executive director for ActionAid Association, told Down To Earth (DTE).
While efforts to reduce child marriage and pregnancy have made some progress, these have been insufficient in addressing the challenges and vulnerabilities faced by teenage mothers — children taking care of their children, he added.
Societal stigma and the lack of institutional support often led pregnant teenagers to drop out of school, perpetuating cycles of poverty and limiting their future opportunities. Support systems for adolescent mothers varied significantly; while some received familial and community backing, others experienced ostracism and neglect.
Furthermore, the ineffectiveness in enforcing child protection laws, such as the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, coupled with restricted access to welfare schemes for teenage mothers, emerged as consistent challenges.
Rural areas as particularly affected, where socio-economic and cultural factors perpetuate early marriages and childbearing, the report highlighted. In states such as West Bengal, over 40 per cent of women aged 20-24 had been married before reaching 18, underscoring the persistent grip of child marriage despite legal prohibitions.
A lack of sexual education further compounds the problem. The study noted that limited awareness of reproductive health and contraception often leads to unintended pregnancies, particularly among married adolescent girls. Social taboos surrounding discussions of sexual health exacerbate these issues, leaving many young women ill-equipped to make informed choices about their bodies.
The consequences of teenage pregnancy are profound, extending to both mother and child. Young mothers face heightened risks of anaemia, preterm labour and maternal mortality, while their children are more likely to suffer from low birth weight, stunted growth and higher rates of infant mortality. The cycle of poverty is perpetuated, as adolescent mothers are often forced to abandon their education and face restricted economic opportunities.
The report also identified critical gaps in India’s welfare policies. Many government schemes exclude adolescent mothers due to age-based eligibility criteria, leaving this vulnerable group without access to essential healthcare and nutritional support.
This exclusionary approach, intended to deter teenage pregnancies, inadvertently punishes those already in difficult circumstances, said Chachra. “For instance, programmes providing nutritional aid, healthcare access, or educational opportunities for women often exclude those under the age of 18, leaving young mothers without essential resources. This exclusion perpetuates the cycle of poverty and denies these young women the opportunity to rebuild their lives,” he said.
Teenage pregnancies cost India a whopping $7.7 billion in a year, according to the United Nations. “Still, the government is apathetic about the issue. There are many policy bottlenecks to rendering services for the betterment of impacted girls. At this juncture, some isolated efforts to ensure the social security of adolescents are a slice of relief,” ActionAid’s Ghasiram Panda wrote for DTE earlier.
To address these challenges, the report advocated a multi-faceted strategy. Education was identified as a key intervention. Initiatives like West Bengal’s Kanyashree Prakalpa, which provides financial incentives for girls to stay in school and delay marriage, have shown promise and need broader replication. Comprehensive sex education is another urgent priority, with schools playing a vital role in dismantling stigma and promoting safe reproductive practices.
Community involvement was also emphasised. Local committees can play a pivotal role in monitoring and preventing child marriages while fostering awareness of the adverse impacts of adolescent pregnancy. Additionally, the report calls for removing age-specific restrictions in welfare schemes to ensure that adolescent mothers receive the support they need to rebuild their lives.
A deeper understanding of the issue through improved data collection and research is deemed essential. The creation of a national database on teenage pregnancies and longitudinal studies could help policymakers design more effective interventions.
The report urged policymakers, civil society and communities to unite in addressing this pressing issue.
“We need focused and inclusive policies that prioritise the well-being of teenage mothers by offering comprehensive support systems, including healthcare, legal protection and economic empowerment,” Chachra added.
Schools and vocational training centres need to play a more proactive role in ensuring that teenage mothers have pathways to continue their education and develop skills that allow them to become financially independent, he further said.
