The regional average rate of births per 1000 females 15–19 years of age is 56, varying from 4 in Japan to 115 in Bangladesh. Since the mid 1970s, some of the higher levels observed in some countries of South Asia have decreased (Singh, 1998). In South Asia the early marriage of adolescents is common; and 25–35% of adolescent girls in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Nepal begin childbearing as early as 17 years (UNFPA, 2001).