There is a high rate of females dying at childbirth amongst any animals. Are those young wives giving birth in sanitary hospitals with the quality medical service experienced in parts of the world were young wives are less prevelant? Are those young wives well nourished and taken care of before and after the birth? Is age the deciding factor in your argument?
(Turtlenuts, Wed 3 Nov 2010, 15:46, 3 replies)

No it's because of the fact their pelvis hasn't developed properly at that age amongst other things.
I'm sure there will be something on the internet about it somewhere but as I'm off to the gym in a bit I can't be arsed to find it.
( girlinthehole, Wed 3 Nov 2010, 15:51, closed)

In 26 minutes?
(Turtlenuts, Wed 3 Nov 2010, 16:19, closed)

Actually
even amongst societies which encouraged young marriage Europe in the medieval period for example, accepted medical knowledge realised that they weren't yet ready to have children regardless of sexual maturity. Just because your period has started doesn't mean your body is equipped physically for the birth of a child, you're still growing yourself and amongst other things as BGB pointed out your pelvis isn't equipped for it.

That's not even to bring in the obvious about mental and emotional maturity and the damage it can do to young girls
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 3 Nov 2010, 17:55, closed)

In sub-Saharan africa and in countries such as Afghanistan surely the issue is as much with the infant mortality rate as with maternal mortality?
(Wibblist Last said "Wibble" on, Wed 3 Nov 2010, 15:55, closed)

This isn't true. Most animals (with some exceptions for domesticated species) barely seem to bat an eyelid - cows will merrily carry on eating right the way through. Most of the problems we have come from our disproportionately large heads, which are required for our disproportionately large brains. Our bonces have outgrown our birth canals, and this problem is exacerbated in younger, underdeveloped mothers.
( Happy Phantom has been to Hastings, Brighton, and Eastbourne too, Wed 3 Nov 2010, 16:40, closed)