20,995 teenagers gave beginning in Kerala in 2019: Report

By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  As many as 20,995 girls who gave beginning within the state in 2019 have been youngsters, says a report by the Economics and Statistics Department. The knowledge signifies that the state is but to do away with the evil apply of kid marriage regardless of its excessive rating in social growth indicators.

Of these younger moms aged between 15 and 19, 316 delivered their second child, 59 their third and 16 their fourth, says the Vital Statistics Report 2019. The knowledge would additional shock one since a majority of the ladies, 15,248, have been from city areas whereas solely 5,747 hailed from rural areas. Also, besides 57, all others had elementary schooling.

As many as 38 of them had primary-level schooling, and 1,463 had schooling between the first degree and tenth normal. As many as 57 individuals have been illiterate and the schooling standing of three,298 moms was unavailable. Public well being knowledgeable Dr Ok V Ramankutty mentioned the information warrants a extra complete research to have a correct evaluation. 

“Obviously, this is bad for the state. Early pregnancy will affect the health of mother and baby. Also, the mother’s chances for higher education or employment would be low in such cases. A study is required for formulating a policy to address this,” he mentioned. 

More male than feminine infants in 2019

The variety of reside births registered in 2019 is 4.80 lakh as in opposition to 4.88 lakh throughout 2018. The majority — 53.71% — of the kids have been born to younger {couples} who had been married for as much as 4 years and 30.76% of kid births have been inside 5 to 9 years after marriage.

Of the whole 4,80,113 newborns, 2,44,953 have been male and a pair of,35,129 feminine. The gender of 31 infants was not recorded. That means, the state had extra male than feminine infants in 2019.

As many as 1,40,314 births (29.23%) have been reported from rural areas and three,39,799 (70.77%) from city areas. Of the whole births registered throughout 2019, 98.95% of deliveries have been in hospitals and 0.26% of the circumstances have been attended to by doctor/nurse/midwife.

Child marriage prevalent?Of the younger moms aged between 15 and 19, 316 delivered their second child, 59 their third and 16 their fourth, says the report. The knowledge hints on the prevalence of kid marriages.