Karnataka makes audit of adolescent pregnancies mandatory

Karnataka mandates audits for adolescent pregnancies, addressing health risks and ensuring comprehensive support for affected girls aged 10-18.

In a move aimed at strengthening adolescent health and addressing early pregnancies, the State government has made it mandatory to audit all adolescent pregnancy cases involving girls aged 10 to 18 years.

A Government Order (GO) issued on Tuesday said the audit will be carried out by the respective Taluk Health Officers (THOs) across the State, covering all such cases reported through both government and private health establishments.

Adolescent pregnancy continues to be a significant public health and social concern, with implications for maternal health, neonatal outcomes and long-term socio-economic development. Pregnancies in this age group are associated with higher risks of complications, adverse birth outcomes, school dropout and increased social vulnerability. Citing global estimates, officials noted that nearly half of adolescent pregnancies are unintended.

Last week, the Health Department had directed private hospitals to mandatorily report cases of minor pregnancies under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences  (POCSO) Act, warning that failure to do so will invite legal action against both doctors and hospital managements.

The April 7 GO stated that while programmes such as the National Health Mission (NHM) and the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) focus on adolescent health through counselling, awareness and access to services, the persistence of teenage pregnancies points to gaps that require systematic review.

Under the new framework, all adolescent pregnancies must be mandatorily reported on the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) platform. The audit will examine factors such as age at marriage, educational status, awareness of reproductive health, access to contraception and counselling services, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. It will also assess linkages with schemes such as RKSK, ICDS and school health programmes.