Consequences of Teenage Childbearing on Maternal and Child Health in India

Several studies have shown that early motherhood is associated with less utilization of maternal health care services as well as increased risk of maternal and child health outcomes. The present study advances our knowledge in Indian context. Adverse impacts of teenage childbearing on low weight at birth, infant mortality rate, and on mother's anaemic conditions is examined using data of third round of National Family Health Survey conducted during, 2005-06. Bivariate and multivariate analysis is employed in the study. Result indicates that risk of poor health is higher among teenage mothers than in the comparison group. However, differences are more pronounced for infant mortality. Multivariate analysis shows that teenage mothers are significantly and negatively associated with risk of low birth weight, infant mortality, and prevalence of anaemia after adjusting other confounders.