Obstetric fistula, eclampsia, puerperal endometritis, anaemia, urinary tract infection, and maternal and neonatal mortality are not random names but these are some of the common health issues faced by girls who become pregnant in their teenage as a result of child marriage.
According to National Crime Records Bureau*, Karnataka accounts for the highest number of child marriages which eventually means a higher number of early pregnancies. The pattern of deteriorating health issues passes onto the child as malnutrition, anaemia, etc.
Our project IMAGE which works to empower the victims of child marriage, in the area of health, education and vocational training, came up with a plan to address this issue and collaborate with the government to reduce early pregnancies in Karnataka.
The IMAGE staff is training the movement leaders i.e early married girls who are now empowered through IMAGE and have been given leadership roles in the village and block levels to lead the movement of empowering girl brides.
Being child agents of IMAGE, these movement leaders are being trained by our research consultant Ms Poornima on conducting surveys using research tools like google forms. By reaching out to the early-married/pregnant girls in their respective communities, the leaders will be able to collect data on the health status of the Early Married Girls.
This would give insights into the magnitude of the issue of early pregnancy. Once the research is completed, the data obtained will be presented to the state government with concrete actionable recommendations and solutions to reduce early pregnancies and provide better healthcare to teenage mothers.
We are excited to see the change agents being trained to lead this research, standing up for their rights and bringing the much-needed change!
*Report published in 2019
By Vaishnavi Gupta, Senior Communications Associate
