For adolescents under 15 years

The younger the mother is, the greater the risk to her and her baby. The risk  of maternal death related to pregnancy and childbirth for adolescent girls  between 15 and 19 years of age accounts for some 70,000 deaths each year.  For adolescents under 15 years of age these risks increase substantially. Girls  who give birth before age 15 are five times more likely to die in childbirth  than women in their twenties.  Adolescent girls and  young women, married or  unmarried, need special help  to delay pregnancy. All who  might be involved with an  early pregnancy – adolescent  girls and young women and  adolescent boys and men as
well as their families – should  be aware of the risks involved  and how to avoid them. This  should include information  on how to prevent sexually  transmitted infections (STIs),  including HIV. After the age of 35, the  health risks associated with  pregnancy and childbirth  begin to increase again.  The risks may include
hypertension (high blood  pressure), haemorrhage (loss of blood), miscarriage and gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) for the woman and congenital anomalies (birth  defects) for the child.