Over 11,000 Underage Girls Became Pregnant in the Past Five Years – MP

Chairman of the Mazhilis Committee on Social and Cultural Development, Askhat Aimagambetov, made this statement during a roundtable held in Astana as part of the National Week of Reproductive Health, according to BAQ.KZ.

During the event, the MP raised the issue of expanding the national HPV vaccination program, noting that boys should also be included in the immunization efforts on a voluntary basis:

“HPV is a problem that concerns not only women, but men as well. We must dispel the misconception that it is a disease affecting only women. While girls are already receiving the vaccine, no concrete measures have yet been taken for boys. Recently, we submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Health suggesting that boys also be vaccinated against HPV, based on parental consent,” he stated.

Aimagambetov also cited data from the Ministry of Health, revealing that over the past five years, more than 11,000 cases of pregnancy among underage girls have been registered in Kazakhstan. However, this figure represents a 43% decrease compared to the year 2000. He also noted a significant reduction in maternal mortality:

“We’ve achieved the lowest maternal mortality rate since independence. This is the result of substantial and ongoing efforts,” Aimagambetov emphasized.

Among other initiatives mentioned by the MP were genetic screenings for early detection of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), as well as osteoporosis screening programs for older women.

As a reminder, Askhat Aimagambetov has previously stated that “HPV is not just a 'female virus' — boys are also at risk.”