#Girlseducation

The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled a comprehensive new guideline aimed at significantly reducing adolescent pregnancies and improving the overall health and well-being of girls worldwide—a move that holds substantial relevance for Thailand and the broader region. The updated recommendations, announced in April 2025, target several root causes of early pregnancies, with a strong emphasis on preventing child marriage, extending girls’ access to education, and strengthening adolescent-friendly health services. These actions, according to the WHO, must be top priorities for governments and civil society striving to improve outcomes for young women.

A new set of World Health Organization guidelines aims to drastically reduce adolescent pregnancies and strengthen girls’ health and rights. Released in April 2025, the recommendations focus on tackling root causes such as child marriage, improving access to education, and delivering adolescent-friendly health services. Governments and communities are urged to treat these actions as top priorities to improve outcomes for young women.

Adolescent pregnancy remains a global public health challenge. Each year, more than 21 million girls in low- and middle-income countries become pregnant, with about half of these pregnancies unintended. In Thailand, the adolescent birth rate has declined but persists, especially in rural and economically disadvantaged provinces. Early pregnancy increases health risks like infections, preterm birth, and complications from unsafe abortions, often worsened by limited access to respectful, non-judgmental care. Beyond health, early pregnancy disrupts schooling, limits career prospects, and can trap families in cycles of poverty. Data from global health sources show these patterns are not unique to one country but reflect shared challenges affecting Thai communities as well.

A groundbreaking participatory research study in Nepal is reshaping the conversation on adolescent girls’ sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), offering valuable lessons for the region—including Thailand—as countries strive to empower young people to make informed choices about their bodies. The study, published by the Brookings Institution, underscores how schools can serve as crucial spaces for strengthening girls’ agency and equipping them with the knowledge and confidence needed to advocate for their SRHR in the face of cultural taboos and misinformation (Brookings, 2025).

A new participatory study from Nepal shows how schools can empower adolescent girls to understand and advocate for sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). Published by the Brookings Institution, the research demonstrates that when schools provide accurate information, safe dialogue, and leadership opportunities, girls gain confidence to address SRHR in communities where taboos and misinformation persist.

The Nepal study, conducted June to December 2024 with girls aged 12 to 15 in public schools, highlights persistent risks in low- and middle-income settings. Early marriage, teen pregnancy, and maternal mortality remain concerns in Thailand and beyond, fueled by gaps in reliable information and restricted discussion about puberty, contraception, and sexual rights. Key barriers identified include myths about menstruation and contraception, social stigma, and teaching styles that rely on lectures rather than dialogue and critical thinking.