CM Chandrababu Alarmed by Soaring Teenage Pregnancies in AP: Calls for Urgent Action

• CM Chandrababu Naidu expressed serious concern over the alarming rise in adolescent pregnancies across all 25 districts of Andhra Pradesh.
• Rayalaseema and South Coastal regions are particularly affected, with child marriages, rapes, and poor decisions cited as key causes.
• The state's average for teenage pregnancies has reached 8.80%, with districts like Palnadu (14.94%) and Kurnool (13.50%) showing high rates.
• The government aims to reduce teenage pregnancies to 5% by 2025-26 and eventually to zero, emphasizing multi-departmental coordination and rural awareness.
• Lack of proper sexual and reproductive health education, child marriages, and economic backwardness are identified as major contributing factors.