KABUL (Pajhwok): Pregnancy at an age younger than 18 years can cause health problems for both the mother and baby, therefore underage marriages should be avoided, gynecologists and specialists said on Saturday. In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, gynecologist Khadija Misbah said 18 years of age and above was the best age for pregnancy. “At 18, the growth of a girl’s body completes, she does not face anemia, if she gets married and pregnant, she would give birth to a healthy baby”.
Khadija said: “If a girl gets pregnant before 18 years of age and then gives birth to a child, this child will be malnourished, prone to illnesses and their mothers would lose more blood, become weak and face more health problems which would make them unable to carry normal pregnancies.” Preferring pregnancy after 18 years of age, Khadija emphasized that: “Marriages before 18 years of age have more social, mental and economic problems and also cause premature births, disabilities and anemia in children.” She said under age mothers could experience miscarriages, anemia or high blood pressure.
“Marriages of girls before reaching 18 years of age also deprive them of educations and put a huge responsibility on their shoulders which make them think less about their education and stay busy serving their in-laws”. Such girls could not continue their life normally because they lack experience and become impatient to continue their lives and even in some cases such marriages.