Adolescent Pregnancy Age Definition
Adolescent pregnancy is defined as pregnancy occurring in girls aged 10-19 years, with the age determined at the time the baby is born. 1, 2
Official Age Range
- The World Health Organization (WHO) officially defines adolescents as individuals between 10 and 19 years of age, which serves as the international standard for defining adolescent pregnancy 1, 2
- This definition is consistently used across global health organizations and clinical guidelines for identifying and managing adolescent pregnancies 2, 3
Clinical Context and Extended Definitions
While the WHO definition of 10-19 years is the standard for adolescent pregnancy, clinical practice recognizes broader age ranges for adolescent healthcare:
- The American Academy of Pediatrics extends the adolescent age range to 11-21 years for comprehensive clinical care, including sexual and reproductive health services 1
- This extended range acknowledges that developmental maturity and healthcare needs continue beyond age 18, particularly relevant for contraceptive counseling and pregnancy prevention 1
Important Clinical Distinctions
- The age is specifically defined as the girl's age when the baby is born, not when conception occurred 2
- Adolescent pregnancies in developing countries typically occur within marriage, while in developed countries they more commonly occur outside marriage 2
- Approximately 11% of all global births are to adolescent mothers, with significant regional variation 4
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not confuse the WHO definition of "youth" (ages 15-24 years) with "adolescent" (ages 10-19 years), as these are distinct age groupings with different clinical implications 1. For pregnancy-specific purposes, always use the 10-19 year age range as the defining criterion.