21% teenage pregnancy in Karnali

By Nabin Subedi, Surkhet, Jan 4: It has been found that 21 per cent of the pregnant women in Karnali Province are under 19 years of age.

Karnali holds the highest record in Nepal, having pregnant women under 19 years. 

The 2022 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (2022 NDHS) has shown that 21 per cent of women under 19 years are found to be pregnant. As per the report, the highest rate of women under 19 years who get pregnant following child marriage is in the Jajarkot district of the province, which is 38.83 per cent, and the lowest is in Kalikot, which is, 20.20 per cent. 

Likewise, child marriage is sustained mostly in the Dalit community, of which, the Badi community has the highest number of child marriages. 

Chetan Giri, a Human rights activist, said that the Badi community followed by the Bahun, Chhetri and Janajati communities hold the highest record of child marriage. 

Giri said that the situation of child marriage is taking a more dire turn as the federal and local levels have not brought concrete programs. 

The main reason behind the continuation of child marriage has been credited to being unable to implement the laws effectively from government agencies. 

Human rights activists said that child marriage is encouraged because government agencies are unable to register complaints about child marriage, conduct investigations as needed, and prosecute and punish the culprits. 

It has been found that child marriages occur because of imitation from others, lack of child- a child-friendly environment, illiteracy, and negative effects of social media. 

Likewise, maternal mortality rate, child mortality rate, family conflict, divorce and multiple marriages, and even suicide are the repercussions observed from child marriage. 

Even though a program bank account ‘Lifelong Security of Daughter’ was started it has failed to continue for two years due to a lack of budget.