Dominican Republic - Teenage mothers (% of women ages 15-19 who have had children or are currently pregnant)

Teenage mothers (% of women ages 15-19 who have had children or are currently pregnant) in Dominican Republic was 20.50 as of 2013. Its highest value over the past 27 years was 23.30 in 2002, while its lowest value was 17.40 in 1986.

Definition: Teenage mothers are the percentage of women ages 15-19 who already have children or are currently pregnant.

Source: Demographic and Health Surveys.

See also:

Year Value
1986 17.40
1991 17.60
1996 22.70
1999 20.80
2002 23.30
2007 20.60
2013 20.50

Development Relevance: Having a child during the teenage years limits girls' opportunities for better education, jobs, and income. Pregnancy is more likely to be unintended during the teenage years, and births are more likely to be premature and are associated with greater risks of complications during delivery and of death. In many countries maternal mortality is a leading cause of death among women of reproductive age, although most of those deaths are preventable. Infants of adolescent mothers are also more likely to have low birth weight, which can have a long-term impact on their health and development. Complications from pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death among girls aged 15-19 years in many low- and middle-income countries.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Health Indicators

Sub-Topic: Reproductive health