Survey finds Andhra 3rd in teen pregnancies

According to the latest round of the national family health survey (NFHS-5), Andhra Pradesh ranks third in teen pregnancies, with 12.6% of young women aged 15-19 already having started childbearing. The report also highlights that 29.3% of women aged 20-24 in the state were married before the age of 18, higher than the national average of 23.3%. Child marriage is still prevalent due to customs, fear of girls eloping or engaging in premarital sex, and patriarchal constructs. Efforts are being made to raise awareness about the negative consequences of child marriage.