A third of unplanned pregnancies will end in abortion and the other two thirds will result in adolescent parenthood.
Unplanned pregnancy is driven by many factors and it is estimated that one million adolescent girls become pregnant each year. A third of these pregnancies will end in abortion and the other two thirds will result in adolescent parenthood.
Many females who become sexually involved at an early age do so for a variety of reasons: gender inequality; peer pressure, pressure form an older male partner, rebellion against parents and sexual abuse; under- or non-utilisation of reproductive health services and ignorance about contraception.
Very young sexually active teenagers tend to have been physically, emotionally or sexually abused. This may include incest and rape as a cause of pregnancy.
Some assume a baby will strengthen a relationship or the prospect of giving up school appeals to her especially if she is struggling to cope academically.
An older partner often provides the adolescent girl with money and gifts for sexual favours and especially girls from disadvantaged and impoverished environments will use this as an opportunity to escape her circumstances.
