Out of the some 435,000 children expected to be born this year, about 73,900 (17%) will be unwanted, according to figures contained in a major research by the US-based Guttmacher Institute.
However, a whopping 42 percent of these births are “unplanned” – indicating that these children are being conceived under risky circumstances.
Though use of contraceptives has risen, the research suggests that some 38 percent of women remain uncovered – which means more unwanted children will continue to be born.
The country’s fertility rate also remains at 6.1 – way above what the report says is a “wanted” rate of 4.1.