Teenage pregnancy rises in Kodagu despite decline in early marriages

Madikeri: Teenage pregnancy and motherhood have increased in Kodagu, with the proportion of girls aged 15-19 who were mothers or pregnant rising from 3.2% in 2019-21 to 5.7% in 2023-24, according to the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6). However, the district recorded a decline in early marriages during the same period.

The NFHS-6 data show that Kodagu and Chamarajanagar were the only two districts in the old Mysuru region to register an increase in teenage pregnancy and motherhood. In Chamarajanagar, the proportion rose marginally from 6.1% to 6.3%, while Mandya remained unchanged at 5.9%, according to Times of India report.

The remaining four districts recorded declines. Mysuru reported a reduction from 7% to 5.8%, Chikkamagaluru from 5.5% to 2.3%, Hassan from 6.4% to zero and Shivamogga from 2.4% to 1.2%.

In contrast, early marriages declined across all seven districts. In Kodagu, the percentage of women aged 20-24 who had married before turning 18 fell from 12.8% in 2019-21 to 9.3% in 2023-24.

Chikkamagaluru recorded the steepest decline, from 19.5% to 11.7%, followed by Shivamogga, which saw a reduction from 11.1% to 4.8%.

The findings indicate that despite progress in reducing child marriage, teenage pregnancy and motherhood remain a concern in Kodagu.