Social Or Health Crisis? 20,000 Teenage Pregnancies Reported In Tamil Nadu Over A Period Of Nine Months

The Directorate of Public Health has reported a figure of 20,000 cases of pregnancies among teenage girls below the age of 18 in Tamil Nadu, reported The Times of India.

The numbers were recorded between April and December this year, "The number was derived from entries on the Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation (PICME) database since the registering in this tool is essential for availing benefits for pregnant women," Darez Ahamed, director, National Health Mission, Tamil Nadu was quoted saying by The Times Of India.

The average group of pregnant girls aged between 16 to 18 were reportedly married and did not opt for abortion, he added.

“There is more of a health crisis than a social one,” said Vidya Reddy, Co-Founder of Centre for Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse said.

She also emphasised the need to educate children, especially young girls about sexual health and reproductive rights. According to TOI, a study by the International Institute of Population Studies had also highlighted the need to educate children in the country about sexual health.