About 16 million girls between 15 and 19 years of age give birth each year, with 95% occurring in developing countries like Bangladesh. For many of these young women, pregnancy and childbirth are not planned or wanted. They together with their upcoming babies are at greater risk of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth.
In low- and middle-income countries, complications of pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death in young women aged 15–19 years. Unwanted pregnancies may end in abortions, which are often unsafe in this age group. The adverse effects of teenage childbearing also extend to the health of their infants.
Stillbirths (death of baby in the womb after viable age) and newborn deaths are 50% higher among babies born to mothers under 20 years of age than among those born to mothers aged 20–29 years. Babies of adolescent mothers are also more likely to be of low birth weight, with the risk of associated long-term effects on their health and development including metabolic disorders like Diabetes.
A Study conducted by Bangladesh Institute of Research for Promotion of Essential and Reproductive Health and Technologies (BIRPERHT) showed that majority (66.5%) of the teenagers, married at 15-17 years of age had their baby delivered immediately after marriage.
South Asian countries have high proportions of teenage pregnancies with a highest in Bangladesh that is 35%.
Social, cultural and religious attitude towards girls encourages early marriage and to bear children early. Some do not know even how to avoid a pregnancy, while others are unable to obtain condoms and contraceptives to do so.
Teens when become pregnant unplanned, are less likely than adults to be able to obtain legal and safe abortions to terminate their pregnancies. They are also less likely to obtain skilled prenatal, childbirth and postnatal care.
It also pulls the economic growth as these teens have much less opportunities to contribute in the socioeconomic development through education, income, employment and of even becoming anything other than a mother.
Teenage care is an important component of reproductive health. Improvement of their health means bigger outcome — improving maternal health and encouraging healthy pregnancy, reduction of maternal mortality, child mortality. We should take strong action against early marriage and discourage early pregnancy.

The writer works at BIRPERHT. Data source: WHO