Data Summary on Teenage Pregnancy in the Marshall Islands

Jonathan James T. Santos, MPH

Teenage Pregnancy

• Data show that babies born to teenage mothers are more likely to be born prematurely and at Low Birth Weight

• Research also show that these babies are often at higher risk for Infant Death and Morbidity (medical conditions and developmental problems)

• Studies show that teenage mothers bear the greatest burden of pregnancy and childbearing

• Studies also show that teen pregnancy has far reaching effects to the development of both mothers and children

• Effects on both the child and the parents (e.g. economic, social, and health problems) will be covered in detail later in this presentation

RMI Ministry of Health Priority Areas

• High rates of reproductive morbidity• High rates of maternal morbidity• High fertility and low contraceptive prevalence

rates• High adolescent fertility• Limited access to reproductive health services in

the outer islands• Weak information base on maternal and child

health and other public health programs

Total Number of Registered Live Births, RMI

1500

1601

1650

15881574

1552

1400

1450

1500

1550

1600

1650

Number

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Year

% of Teenage (<15 to 19) Pregnancies from Total Registered Live Births, Marshall Islands 1996-2001

17.616.2

17.6

20.618.7 18.3

0

5

10

15

20

25

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Year

Percentage

Registered Live Births for Teenage Mothers (< 15 Years Old)

1

7

4

5

3

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Number

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Year

% of Low Birth Weight Babies, Marshall Islands 1996 to 2001

14.75 14.2

11.6

19.7

0 0.33 0.25 0.141.01 1.35

23.5

14.82

0

5

10

15

20

25

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Year

Percentage

Percent of LBW babies

Percent of very LBW babies

Complications for Teen Mothers (<15-19)

37

27

3937

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Number

2000 2001

Year

Low Birth Weight (LBW)

Premature

% of Teenage Live Births with Complications

23.6

18.4

25.429

33 32.731

58.654.5

29

47

31

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Year

Percentage

Low Birth Weight

Premature

Conclusion

Health, social, and economic effects related to teenage

pregnancy will be covered by Stephen

When data is considered with other health, social, and

economic information, it is clear that teen pregnancy has

negative and far reaching effects on society and decreasing it

will improve the lives of men and women and also future

prospects of their children.