Tragedy As Child Bride Forced To Marry At Age 14 Dies After Childbirth

A 15-year-old girl, Derya B, who was forced to marry at age 14, reportedly died a week ago in intensive care.

According to Daily News, the girl was taken to a private hospital in Batman east Turkey, after her delivery with complaints of a serious headache, nausea and vomiting. She suffered a brain haemorrhage that it is believed to have stemmed from giving birth at an early age.

She died at the private hospital in Batman, east Turkey, on October 17.

Police are investigating the circumstances leading to her death and her body has been sent to the Batman Regional Public Hospital for an autopsy.

Meanwhile, prosecutors have launched a probe into her death, taking testimony from her father as a plaintiff and from her husband as a suspect.

Gynaecology expert, Professor M.D. Aydan Biri who affirmed the death might have been related to delivery at an early age, said:

“It is dangerous for a child bride to get pregnant. The mortality rate is higher in adolescent pregnancies. The risks of high blood pressure, early birth or an intervention in the birth are higher. The pregnancies of children who have not completed their physical development and whose organs have not yet completely developed often end in death.”

According to charity organization, Girls not Brides, there are 15 million girls married before the age of 18 every year, amounting to one every two seconds.