NIN Web Desk : Today is World Health Day, and on that occasion different specialist doctors are continuously taking various awareness messages and steps for health awareness in the society. But still, in the 21st century in the current social system, a part of health awareness still remains unconscious, among which a significant issue of child marriage which is an important enough to stop soon. Not only child marriage, but in many cases, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and runaway marriage are the reasons behind the motherhood of minors. Even the state government is trying every moment to take several steps in this regard so that underage pregnancy does not happen in any way. Still there remains a deficiency in social awareness which remains as an organ full of disease.
It is to be noted that in the pre-independence era scholar Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar fought hard to enforce the law against child marriage in 1889 during the British period. The law was later strengthened in 2006 making child marriages below the age of 18 for women and 21 for men an outright illegal and punishable offence. But even then, this type of social phenomenon continues to happen in villages and cities due to various reasons.
Statistically speaking, according to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, around 2.2 million teenage girls (15-19) (teen-age pregnancy) fall under the category of premature motherhood every year around the world. On the other hand, preterm motherhood is 6.8 percent of Indian women (according to the National Women’s Health Annual Statistics) and in West Bengal the annual underage pregnancy rate is 17% and child marriage is 4%. Among them, more than 1 crore minors suffer the pain of immature motherhood at an annual rate. An estimated, and 55% of underage births are caused by abortion. Among them West Bengal and Bihar have the highest number.
Medical Officer Dr. Tapas Pramanik said in this regard, “Premature delivery i.e. underage motherhood can lead to serious problems to both mother and child. In case of underage mothers dealing with low weight, high blood pressure, anemia, emotional problems i.e. emotionality and psychosis also social and economic problems which can lead to life-threatening or even death of the mother. On the other hand, the baby can have low birth weight, premature birth, breathing difficulties, developmental delay due to lack of oxygen to the brain at birth, infection and even sudden death of the baby. So it is very important to stop child marriage immediately.”
Psychiatrist Dr. Ranjan Bhattacharya said, “The impact of child marriage is far-reaching. On one hand, the body and on the other, the mind, in both cases immature motherhood gives birth to many health problems. Anemia, infection, perinatal hypertension and seizures, excessive post-partum haemorrhage which may increase in mortality. So there is a need for awareness and strict legislation. A healthy and mature motherhood is the key to safe and physically and mentally healthy children, the new generation.”
When asked about the issue of minor mothers, Minister Shashi Panja said, “We are aware of the issue, we are keeping an eye on it. Counseling of these minors should be done as much as possible, which is very important in any way. But in many cases, they are also victims of torture, for which appropriate legal action should be taken.” Commenting on minor pregnancy, the minister also said, “In many cases, the boys are older, i.e. adults, legal action must be taken against those boys, and if both are immature, there is a system to send them HOME (as per Juvenile Justice Act). If the family supports forced child marriage, there is a law for that also.”
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