Underage Pregnancies in Karnataka: Causes and Concerns

Recent data from the Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar highlighted a significant increase in underage pregnancies in Karnataka, with cases rising from 252 in 2021–22 to 709 in 2023–24. This surge is attributed to various socio-economic and cultural factors.

Case Studies and Observations

• A 15-year-old girl from Bagalkot was found pregnant without being married, illustrating the lack of awareness and family oversight.
• In Bengaluru, a 13-year-old girl delivered a baby without understanding the concept of pregnancy, highlighting ignorance and failure to identify the perpetrator.

Factors Contributing to Underage Pregnancies

• Lack of Awareness: Limited understanding of sex and contraceptives among young girls.
• Child Marriages: Despite awareness efforts, child marriages remain prevalent, exacerbated by socio-economic crises post-COVID-19.
• Migratory Trends: Migration to urban areas like Bengaluru has led to an increase in underage pregnancies among girls employed in household work.
• Societal Pressures: Early marriages are often viewed as a way to 'protect' girls from falling in love outside caste or class boundaries.

Systemic Failures and Recommendations

Activists criticize systemic failures and demand more proactive health and educational interventions:

• Health System: Ground-level health workers should counsel young girls on contraception and maintain vigilance on frequent pregnancies.
• Government Initiatives: A 13-week radio series was conducted to raise awareness, reaching over 5.75 lakh individuals across Karnataka.
• Data Gaps: The Health Department lacks comprehensive data on underage pregnancies, complicating efforts to address the issue.

Long-term Implications

Activists warn that failing to address underage pregnancies could lead to significant human capital losses, stressing the importance of government intervention to secure future generations.

Government and NGO Efforts

• The government has collaborated with NGOs to train staff in preventing underage pregnancies and has directed multiple departments to address the issue.
• A circular was issued by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to improve the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) portal for better tracking of such cases.