Adolescent fertility rates are high in many Pacific countries, with little decline in the past decade. For example, between 8-26% of girls aged 15-19 who are married or in civil unions have already started childbearing, and 17 and 62% of recent births were unplanned. This reflects that adolescent pregnancy in the Pacific often occurs outside of marriage and is commonly unintended. Adolescent girls who become pregnant are at an increased risk of physical or mental abuse and are often less able to complete their education, find employment and therefore more likely to remain in poverty. Teenage pregnancy is linked.
