Motherhood in Childhood
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A UNFPA review of four countries found that<br />
the greater the age difference, the greater the<br />
chances are that the girl will become pregnant<br />
before age 18 (United Nations, 2011a).<br />
In countries where women tend to marry at<br />
young ages, the differences between the s<strong>in</strong>gulate<br />
mean age at marriage, or SMAM, between<br />
males and females are generally large. The<br />
three countries with the lowest female SMAMs<br />
as of 2008 were Niger (17.6 years), Mali (17.8<br />
years) and Chad (18.3 years). All had age differences<br />
between male and female SMAMs of<br />
at least six years. SMAM is the average length<br />
of s<strong>in</strong>gle life among persons between ages<br />
15 and 49 (United Nations, 2011a).<br />
“I was given to my husband<br />
when I was little and I don’t<br />
even remember when I was<br />
given because I was so little.<br />
It’s my husband who brought<br />
me up.”<br />
Kanas, 18, Ethiopia<br />
WOMEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 20 AND 24 REPORTING A BIRTH BEFORE<br />
AGE 18 AND BEFORE AGE 15, 2010 AND PROJECTIONS THROUGH 2030<br />
South Asia Sub-Saharan Africa Lat<strong>in</strong> America and the Caribbean<br />
Before Age 18 Before Age 15<br />
25<br />
4<br />
Millions<br />
20<br />
15<br />
10<br />
17.4<br />
10.1<br />
17.9 18.1 18.2 18.4<br />
14.7<br />
12.9<br />
16.4<br />
11.4<br />
Millions<br />
3<br />
2<br />
2.9<br />
1.8<br />
3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0<br />
3.0<br />
2.7<br />
2.4<br />
2.1<br />
5<br />
4.5 4.6 4.7 4.7 4.6<br />
1<br />
0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5<br />
0<br />
0<br />
2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030<br />
Source: www.dev<strong>in</strong>fo.org/mdg5b<br />
THE STATE OF WORLD POPULATION 2013<br />
11
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