An Iraqi-Specific Perspective on Adolescent Pregnancy

Abstract

The effects of exposure to war, armed conflict, and civil disorder on the youth and children, and their needs for services and therapeutic/educational interventions have been described in a number of research studies. In this case, the children and adolescents are Iraqi. In this chapter, the Iraqi history and culture that shape adolescent sexual development are examined in light of 40 years of conflict and war, and their sequelae of traumatic exposure. Critical issues faced by contemporary Iraqi girls and women are safety and security. They define themselves within their families and society in the context of traditional patriarchal values. Daily life is challenging in Iraq. Even obtaining basic services including electricity and clean water is difficult, let alone gaining access to quality healthcare and education. Complicating the narrative for the youth of Iraq is the evolving religious and cultural practice of consanguinity and family-arranged marriages. The meaning and nature of teen motherhood in Iraq will also evolve in the face of contemporary realities. While the impact of early marriage tends to limit female access to education and self-determination, early marriage can also be an adaptive response to the risks and uncertainty of dangerous civil unrest, crushing exposure to harsh economic realities, and social upheaval. Growing up in situations of chronic danger and ongoing traumatic stress associated with dangerous environments present ongoing developmental challenges. This is of paramount importance. Like other countries and regions that have and will be devastated by armed conflict in the future, as Iraq again takes its place as one of the leading countries in the Middle East, it will be up to the youth of Iraq to pick up the pieces and play a major role in resolving the widespread trauma and cultural contradictions that challenge contemporary Iraq.