Blog examines impact of adolescent pregnancy in South Asia

As part of its monthly series Stories Behind the Statistics, "guest edited by FHI 360 on behalf of USAID'S IYWG, which provides technical leadership to improve the reproductive and sexual health of young people," the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's "Impatient Optimists" blog features a story by Gaj Bahadur Gurung, program coordinator for the National Federation of Women Living with HIV and AIDS in Nepal, who discusses the impact of adolescent pregnancy on girls and young women in South Asia. He writes, "Policies and programs must both help prevent early and unintended pregnancy (for married and unmarried women) and mitigate the negative consequences for girls who do become pregnant. Programs should provide young women access to, control over, and informed choice of their sexual and maternal health services" (8/3).