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LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Some of the major health problems faced by women in developing countries are caused by "terrible" traditions that must be stopped, said the head of public health at the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Traditions such as child marriage or female genital mutilation (FGM), widely practised in some communities, contribute to high maternal mortality rates in some poor countries where girls as young as 13 get married and give birth.
Tackling traditions that can be detrimental to health and backing those changes by legislation are essential to protecting women and girls, Maria Neira told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
"A tradition that forces a girl to get married at 13 is a bad tradition," Neira said on the sidelines of a London event on maternal mortality and access to water and sanitation. "It's time to fight all of those traditions."
Customs like child marriage mean that teenage girls get pregnant and give birth, often before their bodies are ready, and often in clinics without basic facilities like clean water or toilets.
Traditions such as child marriage or female genital mutilation (FGM), widely practised in some communities, contribute to high maternal mortality rates in some poor countries where girls as young as 13 get married and give birth.
Tackling traditions that can be detrimental to health and backing those changes by legislation are essential to protecting women and girls, Maria Neira told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
"A tradition that forces a girl to get married at 13 is a bad tradition," Neira said on the sidelines of a London event on maternal mortality and access to water and sanitation. "It's time to fight all of those traditions."
Customs like child marriage mean that teenage girls get pregnant and give birth, often before their bodies are ready, and often in clinics without basic facilities like clean water or toilets.
It's time to fight traditions that harm women's health: WHO
Some of the major health problems faced by women in developing countries are caused by "terrible" traditions that must be stopped, said the head of public health at the World Health Organisation (WHO).
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