Early motherhood, the high cost of lost opportunities and dreams

Karen Dayana* was one of the best students in her class at the Buenaventura school in the Colombian Pacific region, where she studied. She hoped to finish high school at 17 and immediately enter university to study psychology, graduating at 23.

However, she became pregnant and gave birth to her first daughter at 15. This tragic event prevented her from fulfilling her plan, which was delayed by almost three years. During this time, she had to dedicate herself to caring for her baby, fortunately with the support of her parents and several foundations.

This fact, which at first might seem merely anecdotal, added to the 1.6 million pregnancies registered in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) among women between the ages of 10 and 19 each year, has a significant negative impact on the economic and social development of the countries in the region.

And although the number of births in this age range has decreased substantially in the last decade, LAC continues to rank second in the world in teenage pregnancies, after sub-Saharan Africa.

These figures would represent nothing more than a "youth problem" if not for the fact that these cases have translated into an alarming opportunity cost of $15.3 billion for the region each year between 2010 and 2024.

This not only weighs on the economic and social development of countries but also delays the achievement of equality and equity, two essential variables for adequate growth as a society.

The figure represents, on average, 1% of each country's total GDP, although in territories like Panama and Suriname it rises to 3%.

These figures are part of the study "The Price of Inequality: Socioeconomic Consequences of Adolescent Pregnancy and Early Motherhood in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2025," developed by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), based on updated information from 15 countries in the region.

Silent Crisis

The recently released prologue to the study issues an urgent warning: immediate action is needed to reverse the trend. “This document is not just a report; it is a call to action and a cry of alarm about a silent crisis that undermines the future of Latin America and the Caribbean: teenage pregnancy. (…) This is both a cause and a consequence of inequality, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and limiting socioeconomic opportunities for young women and their families,” the report states, comparing them with women who became mothers later in life.

But what is opportunity cost, and why is its measurement so significant for the development of countries? It is the value of the best alternative forgone when making a decision. In simple terms, it represents what Karen Dayana lost by postponing her life plan for at least three years, considering what she would have gained had she not become pregnant. This “best option” not chosen has both individual and social consequences.

Although the study clarifies that 67% of teenage pregnancies were unintentional, the decision to continue pregnancies and raise children during adolescence has a strong impact on community development. This is because the Adolescent Specific Fertility Rate (ASFR) is associated with the persistence of poverty and the perpetuation of underdevelopment for a large portion of the population.

According to UNFPA, the opportunity cost for States amounts to $1.8 billion, equivalent to 0.13% of the combined GDP of the 15 countries analyzed. Of this figure, nearly $1 billion corresponds to tax forgone by States as a direct consequence of early motherhood.

The study also highlights that 88.2% of the total estimated cost falls on women and their families, as many of them achieve lower educational levels and enter the labor market with fewer opportunities to access quality jobs. This situation contributes to the reproduction of the cycle of poverty and represents a clear expression of inequality and gender gaps.

On the other hand, maternal mortality linked to the increased risks of pregnancy and childbirth during adolescence claims 28,607 years of potential life each year. Regarding the direct relationship between the EFA and the Human Development Index (HDI), within countries, it was evident that regions with the lowest HDI have an EFA twice as high as regions with the highest HDI.

Meanwhile, Afro-descendant adolescents are 50% more likely to become mothers than their non-Afro-descendant peers. The data presented highlight the urgent need to prioritize reducing teenage pregnancy, focusing on the most vulnerable populations.

The numbers reflect a difficult reality for young women. A teenage mother has fewer development opportunities and to offer better opportunities to her children, and, worse still, her life dreams are often dashed.

Yes, they have decreased, but more is needed

However, the macro-study highlights the significant decline in teenage pregnancies on the continent in recent years. According to United Nations estimates, between 2010 and 2024, there has been a notable decrease in the TFA, both in the 15-19 age group and in the 10-14 age group: it fell from 73.1 to 50.6 and from 3.6 to 2.3, respectively, during that period.

"Between 2020 and 2024, a slowdown in the reduction in Fever (around 8% for both age groups) was observed compared to the previous five-year period (around 18%), due in part to the impact of the pandemic. This reduction occurred unevenly across countries. By 2024, 13 countries in the region had a Fever higher than the regional average (50.6) and 20 above the world average (41),” the study specifies in its official report.

Prevention Means Progress

The data presented in the report show that preventing teenage pregnancy will enhance the demographic and gender dividends, which are so necessary for countries' economic growth.

And although there are numerous examples of successful prevention and education programs at the regional level, the study concludes that it is urgent to intensify these initiatives to achieve an ambitious goal of reducing teenage or early pregnancies and highlights the need for them to be jointly led by governments, specialized NGOs, and civil society, starting with young people.

Likewise, these strategies, as the report states, must prioritize public health, both gynecological and mental, and education. “Investing in adolescent pregnancy prevention is sound economic policy, as it is estimated that between $15 and $40 in benefits can be obtained for every dollar invested, depending on the country. These advantages not only translate into economic savings but also into improved quality of life and opportunities for adolescents and their children.

There are already successful experiences in the region, especially in vulnerable areas of the countries, that have resulted in reductions of up to 50% in the EFA rate in a relatively short period, according to the United Nations. This organization estimates that an investment of approximately $1.8 billion in LAC would reverse this problem.

Measures that have proven effective

▸ Design national and local strategies to reduce adolescent pregnancy with the participation of all sectors and levels of the State and civil society.

▸ Guarantee informed access to quality sexual and reproductive health services for the entire population, including modern contraceptive methods, especially long-term contraceptives. duration.

▸ Create laws that prohibit child marriage and early unions, as recently happened in Colombia with Law 2344 of 2025, and in Peru with Law 31945 of 2023.

▸ Promote the participation and empowerment of adolescent girls.

▸ Ensure access to comprehensive sexuality education. By implementing these measures and working together, we can achieve a future where every adolescent has the opportunity to reach their full potential and build a prosperous life.