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Unlike most of the other states in India the women of Kerala have been more aware about sexuality and pregnancy. This is the result of the high literacy rate of the women here, which is also an influencing factor in childbirth along with various other factors. It has also been seen that the family planning system in women of Kerala is more refined. These women prefer marriage at later ages due to the emphasis on their careers and also because they are more inclined towards planned pregnancies rather than unplanned pregnancies. They are more aware about the information related to pregnancy and the right procedure for care and welfare of their child. Due to this sensible planning and information, these women are also able to provide a better lifestyle to their children and avoid unnecessary financial burdens and related problems.
Various studies in the state have also revealed that girls from troubled family backgrounds had the risk of unwanted pregnancy about 11 times more as compared to those from happy family circumstances. But recent studies are showing that the cases of unmarried adolescent and young women pregnancy have been on the rise, despite a very high female literacy rate of 87 per cent.
The studies also state that this increase has been due to the mental ill health that many women are now suffering from. The reasons for this ill health are not religion and socio-economic status but these are the driving trends of lack of productive engagement, inappropriate parental control and also the lack of basic knowledge on sexual and reproductive health.
There are also various kinds of problems that govern the situation and these include divorced or separated parents, polygamous families, marital disharmony or mentally challenged parents, and single parents. The rise of the unwanted pregnancies in the state has also led to concern about the well being of the women. Thus in spite of the high educational levels of the state, there is an emerging problem of unwanted pregnancies. But the women who are planning out their pregnancies after marriage and also have access to information on general health and well being are able to produce healthier children and are able to take care off their personal health as well as the health of their children, much better than the women of other states in the country, who lack this knowledge.
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Mother and her Child
