Revisiting the Endogeneity of Adolescent Pregnancy and Child Marriage in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Review with Practical Solutions

Abstract

Adolescence is an important time for promoting health and preventing disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an adolescent as an individual in the 10-19 years age group and usually uses the term young person to denote those between 10 and 24 years. Adolescent health encompasses changing transitions within multiple domains, including the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and intellectual. These changes have important implications for health. During this period of increasing independence, adolescents face critical choices about health-related behaviors in areas such as sexuality, physical activity, diet, and use of health care services. These behaviors affect health during adolescence and young adulthood and, in the long-term, are related to many of the leading causes of adult morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the protection and promotion of health during this life stage is of great importance and has been shown to yield benefits not only for adolescents now, but also for their future adult lives and for their future children. This paper explore two key issues underpinning adolescent health, teen pregnancy, and child marriage. Trends in early marriage and early childbearing help determine national poverty levels and economic productivity. Decisions about whether to remain in school, whether to marry, or whether to engage in sexual activity have implications for education and health. The paper argues that failure to understand the interrelationship between adolescent pregnancy and child marriage may jeopardize earlier investments in maternal and child health, erodes future quality and length of life, and escalates suffering, inequality, and social instability. Keywords: Adolescent Health, Child Marriage, Teen Pregnancy.