Legal age for marriage is 18 years. But Muslim girls can marry at the age of 12 years according to their traditional law.

It is legally considered as a rape, a punishable offence

Being pregnant as a teenage girl is not an easy thing to deal with. It is also an issue of utmost importance for several reasons;
There are health risks for the baby as well as teen mothers.
Baby is more likely to suffer health, social, and emotional problems than children born to older mothers.
Pregnant teens are at increased risk for medical complications, such as premature labor, maternal complications and social consequences.
However women who become pregnant during their teenage period are at five times risk for maternal mortality rather than older pregnant mothers'

Teenage mothers are at a high risk for the following medical conditions:
• They have a higher chance of getting high pressure in pregnancy
• They are more likely to be anemic.
• They will go for pre term delivery (child birth before baby is fully mature)
• They do not gain enough weight in pregnancy
• They are at risk of getting more complications at giving birth. Have a higher chance of dying at child birth

• Teen mothers get common reactions such as anger, guilt, and denial.
• Depression is also more common among them.
• Feelings of anxiety and fear also increase in teenage parents as well as pregnant teens.

• Teen mothers are more likely to drop out of high school
Globally only 41% of teenagers who have children before age 18 graduate from high school compared to 61% of teens from similar social and economic backgrounds who delayed childbirth until age 20 or 21.
• Many girls who become pregnant have to leave school. This has long-term implications for them as individuals, their families and communities.
• With an incomplete education a teenage mother will not get good jobs.
• Teenage parents will be in need of family support or public assistance to meet her and her child's basic needs.
• Teen mothers are more likely to live in poverty.
Over the world, over 75% of all unmarried teen mothers go on welfare within five years of the birth of their child. This creates a cycle of continued poverty and welfare dependency.
• Teens may not have acquired the necessary positive parenting skills and life skills necessary to cope with the stress and joy of having and raising a child.
• They are at more prone to increased exposure to domestic abuse and violence.
• Teen pregnancy often leads to another pregnancy within two years.
• Teen moms are less likely to marry.

•Teen mothers have a higher chance of having low birth weight babies.
Ten percent of young mothers has a low birth weight baby.
Low birth weight babies may have organs that are not fully developed. Underdeveloped organs can lead to breathing problems, bleeding in the brain, vision loss and serious intestinal problems. They are at higher risk for death.
Low-birth weight babies are more than twenty times as likely to die in their first year of life versus a normal-weight baby.
• These babies get less care. There is a higher chance of neglect of these babies at home. So may not get proper medical care including vaccination

• They have increased risk of behavioral problems
• They are at higher chance getting developmental delays and learning disabilities.
• Lower rates of academic achievement is seen among them due to developmental delays and neglect.

• Greater risk for abuse and neglect.
• Girls born to teenage mothers are 22% more likely to become teenage mothers.
• Children of teenage mothers have increased incidents of trouble in school or with the law.
• They are more prone to the exposure to domestic violence.
• Children of teen mothers often perform at a lower level academically.
• Children of teen moms are more likely to end up in prison

• Delay from sex till marriage( abstinence from sex)
• Be knowledgeable about contraception and sexual health
• Have the life skills –how to say “NO” for sex and on facing challenges
• Involve in supporting community based adolescent and youth health programmes