Damauli, July 3

Over 25 per cent girls below the child-bearing age become mothers in Tanhun district, according to a study conducted by the district health office, Tanahun.

The chief of District Health Office, Tanahun, Dr Pawanjung Rayamajhi said the study, conducted in the first six months of this fiscal, found that girls as young as 14 were becoming mothers and that the number of young mothers were increasing in the district.

“As there is an increasing number of girls becoming pregnant before the right age, it is going to be a public health issue as young mothers are too shy to come for pregnancy tests and lack proper nutrition. This is going to have adverse health consequences for both mother and baby,” the doctor said.

Officials at the district health office said they had planned various programmes to raise awareness about maternal health among the public. According to data, as many as 9,734 pregnant women had their pregnancy tested at the health facility.