HEALTH, GUIDELINES – The World Health Organization (WHO) has released comprehensive new guidelines urging governments to take decisive, ethically grounded action to address adolescent pregnancy — the leading global cause of death among girls aged 15 to 19.
The recommendations emphasize a principled approach rooted in moral obligation, affirming the inherent rights of girls to health, education, and protection from exploitation.
Over 21 million girls in low- and middle-income countries become pregnant annually, with nearly half of these pregnancies unplanned.
A significant majority of these occur within the context of child marriage — with nine out of ten adolescent births happening among girls married before the age of 18.
This trend, WHO warns, perpetuates gender inequality, poverty, and severe health risks, including complications from unsafe abortions and preterm births.
“Early pregnancies are not simply a health issue — they reflect deep societal inequities and systemic neglect,” said Dr. Pascale Allotey, WHO Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research.
“Policymakers are duty-bound to create environments where girls can flourish — free from coercion, empowered with knowledge, and supported by equitable access to care.”
The updated guideline provides a framework for action, including:
- Legal Reforms: Enact and enforce legislation that prohibits marriage under the age of 18, consistent with international human rights commitments.
- Education-Based Solutions: Invest in secondary education for girls through financial support mechanisms like scholarships and targeted stipends.
- Health System Reforms: Remove legal and policy barriers that prevent adolescents from independently accessing sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception and safe abortion care.
- Curriculum Integration: Ensure comprehensive sexuality education is embedded in national curricula to equip youth with knowledge about consent, reproductive health, and gender equity.
- Economic Empowerment: Promote livelihood programs that offer adolescents viable alternatives to early marriage.
Dr. Sheri Bastien, WHO Scientist for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health, emphasized the transformative potential of education: “Equipping adolescents with knowledge and life opportunities helps them challenge harmful norms, delay childbirth, and envision futures beyond early marriage.”
While notable global progress has been made — adolescent births declined from 1 in 15 in 2000 to 1 in 25 in 2021 — stark regional disparities remain.
In several countries, nearly 1 in 10 girls aged 15–19 still gives birth annually.
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WHO’s recommendations are anchored in a rule-based ethical framework that prioritizes justice and the protection of vulnerable populations, regardless of potential economic outcomes.
The organization stresses that fulfilling girls’ rights is not merely an investment in development — it is a moral imperative.
The 2025 guideline update builds on WHO’s previous 2011 edition, providing a stronger emphasis on preventing child marriage and improving adolescents’ access to information and services.
For policymakers, it offers a roadmap to uphold fundamental values while dismantling structural barriers that hinder young girls’ potential.