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While the total number of children per adult woman has declined in Latin America and the
Caribbean over the past 30 years, the rates of adolescent pregnancy have barely reduced. Latin
America and the Caribbean is also the only region to experience a rising trend in adolescent
pregnancies among girls younger than 15 years. A few countries, however, are beginning to see
faster declines in their adolescent pregnant rates.

Maternal mortality was the fourth leading cause of death among women aged 10-24 in the
Americas during 2010-2014, due to complications in pregnancy and delivery in adolescents.

By the numbers

• More than 45,000 youth aged 15-24 die from homicide each year in the Americas. While
country variations exist, 60-70% of these involve firearms.
• Around 30,000 youth aged 15-24 die from road traffic fatalities each year in the Americas. New
teen drivers are up to 10 times more likely to have accidents than adults.
• Around 12,000 youth aged 15-24 years die from suicide each year in the Americas.

• Adolescent girls with primary education or less are up to four times more likely to initiate
childbearing than girls with secondary or higher education.
• The percentage of tobacco users among adolescents aged 13-17 years in the Americas
ranges from 1.9% in Canada to 28.7% in Jamaica.

• In 21 countries with data, 10-20% of students indicated that they sometimes went hungry
because there was not enough food in the home.
• The literacy rate of youth aged 15-24 years in the Americas is over 98%. However, youth
enrolled in secondary school varies between 60-80% and, in some countries, below 50%.
Links
The Health of Adolescents and Youth in the Americas: Implementation of the Regional Strategy

and Plan of Action on Adolescent and Youth Health 2010-2018: www.paho.org/adolescent-
health-report-2018

PAHO/WHO Adolescent Health:

https://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_topics&view=article&id=223&Itemid=40879&la
ng=en

Infographic: Homicide among youth in the Americas:
https://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&Itemid=270&gid
=41033&lang=en