Socioeconomic Differences in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health : Marriage
Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) is one of five areas of focus of the World Banks Reproductive Health Action Plan 2010-2015 (RHAP), which recognizes the importance of addressing ASRH as a development issue with important implications for poverty reduction. Delaying childbearing and preventing unintended pregnancies during adolescence has been shown to schooling, future employment, and earnings (Greene Merrick, 2005). Early marriage often marks the beginning of exposure to the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Research has shown that adolescent marriage is associated with unplanned pregnancy, rapid repeat childbirth, inadequate use of maternal health services, and poor birth outcomes, among other negative maternal and child health outcomes (Godha, Hotchkiss, and Gage, 2013; Raj Boehmer, 2013; Santhya, 2011). Furthermore, research in Ethiopia has found that adolescent females who marry before the age of 15 are at higher risk of intimate partner violence and coercive sex than those who marry between ages 15-18 (Erulkar, 2013). At the 65th World Health Assembly, representatives agreed that early marriage is a violation of the rights of children and adolescents. Early marriage is illegal in most of the places where it occurs. It limits young girls autonomy, knowledge, resources, and decision-making power (World Bank, 2014). Adolescent marriage is also much more likely to affect females than males: in the developing world, 16 percent of females are married in comparison to 3 percent of males (UNFPA, 2013).
Summary: | Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive
Health (ASRH) is one of five areas of focus of the World
Banks Reproductive Health Action Plan 2010-2015 (RHAP),
which recognizes the importance of addressing ASRH as a
development issue with important implications for poverty
reduction. Delaying childbearing and preventing unintended
pregnancies during adolescence has been shown to schooling,
future employment, and earnings (Greene Merrick, 2005).
Early marriage often marks the beginning of exposure to the
risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections
(STIs). Research has shown that adolescent marriage is
associated with unplanned pregnancy, rapid repeat
childbirth, inadequate use of maternal health services, and
poor birth outcomes, among other negative maternal and child
health outcomes (Godha, Hotchkiss, and Gage, 2013; Raj
Boehmer, 2013; Santhya, 2011). Furthermore, research in
Ethiopia has found that adolescent females who marry before
the age of 15 are at higher risk of intimate partner
violence and coercive sex than those who marry between ages
15-18 (Erulkar, 2013). At the 65th World Health Assembly,
representatives agreed that early marriage is a violation of
the rights of children and adolescents. Early marriage is
illegal in most of the places where it occurs. It limits
young girls autonomy, knowledge, resources, and
decision-making power (World Bank, 2014). Adolescent
marriage is also much more likely to affect females than
males: in the developing world, 16 percent of females are
married in comparison to 3 percent of males (UNFPA, 2013). |
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