Family Planning : The Hidden Need of Married Adolescents in Nepal
In Nepal, both early marriage and motherhood still place adolescents and their children at a great disadvantage. In 2011, one-third of girls aged 15-19 were already married. About 60 percent of them were pregnant or had at least one child, and one in ten had two living children (Nepal Demographic Health Survey, 2011). This brief aims to understand why married adolescents in Nepal have low contraceptive use and a high unmet need for family planning, providing policy recommendations based on a literature review, interviews with key-informants, and a comprehensive analysis of secondary data from household surveys (NDHS 2006-2011). Given that early childbearing in Nepal still occurs primarily within marriage, the brief addresses the needs of female married adolescents which are often overlooked by policy-makers. However, it is important to note that unmarried adolescents are progressively engaging in sexual activity in Nepal increasing their risks for contracting an STI or an unplanned pregnancy that warrants special attention.
Summary: | In Nepal, both early marriage and
motherhood still place adolescents and their children at a
great disadvantage. In 2011, one-third of girls aged 15-19
were already married. About 60 percent of them were pregnant
or had at least one child, and one in ten had two living
children (Nepal Demographic Health Survey, 2011). This brief
aims to understand why married adolescents in Nepal have low
contraceptive use and a high unmet need for family planning,
providing policy recommendations based on a literature
review, interviews with key-informants, and a comprehensive
analysis of secondary data from household surveys (NDHS
2006-2011). Given that early childbearing in Nepal still
occurs primarily within marriage, the brief addresses the
needs of female married adolescents which are often
overlooked by policy-makers. However, it is important to
note that unmarried adolescents are progressively engaging
in sexual activity in Nepal increasing their risks for
contracting an STI or an unplanned pregnancy that warrants
special attention. |
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