Nepal, June 27 -- The rate of teenage pregnancies is increasing in Shuklaphanta Municipality, with health officials raising concerns over the physical and mental well-being of young mothers.

According to the municipality's health unit, out of 302 deliveries at birth centers in the current fiscal year, 30 were by teens under 20-up from 28 last year. Most of these girls were aged between 16 and 19.

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Health unit chief Paramananda Bhatt said early pregnancies pose high health risks for both mother and child due to the biological immaturity of the mother. Despite legal restrictions on marriage before age 20, early marriages persist, he added.

Bhatt attributed the trend to a lack of ...