The Deputy Health Minister, J.Amarsanaa and Representative for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Mongolia Naomi Kitahara have announced the release of reports on the teenage pregnancy birth rate in Mongolia, on Friday November 22nd.

The report highlighted that every year 7.3 million girls gave birth before they reached 18 years old globally. Teenage pregnancy has become one of the challenging issues in developing countries including Mongolia.

The teenage pregnancy rate in Mongolia has risen continuously since 2006. Now the figure has reached its high level in the past 15 years at 33 teenage births per 1000 women.

Teenage pregnancy may harm girls health as well as limit their opportunities to develop themselves in their lives.

A baby born to a teenage mother is at higher risk of premature birth, low birth weight, other serious health problems and also death, than a baby born to an older mother. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Mongolia representative Naomi Kitahara said that  “We have to encourage young women to make the right choice when they plan their own family and future.”

One of the key factors contributing to the high rate of teenage pregnancy is explained by the lack of reproduction knowledge. In Mongolia, reproductive health services are run at Centers  for Health and Community. Soon six more reproductive health services are expected to be built near student campus areas with the support of the Ministry of Health this year.