Health & Medicine

9-year-old Gives Birth: Baby Delivered by Cesarean in Mexico

Kathleen Lees
First Posted: Feb 07, 2013 10:20 AM EST

According to Mexican authorities, a 9-year-old girl has given birth in western Mexico. She was impregnated by a 17-year-old, who is reported to be her boyfriend.

Jalisco state police spokesman Lino Gonzalez says the baby girl was born last week at a hospital in the city of Guadalajara. He says the girl and her baby are both doing well.

The 5-pound, 15-ounce baby girl was delivered by Cesarean section Jan. 27, Enrique Rabago, director of the Hospital General de Occidente, told a news conference Wednesday. The mother, identified only as Dafne, and child were released over the weekend.

Gonzalez said, as of Wednesday, that the girl's family had alerted authorities after she gave birth and the alleged father had not been seen since in the neighborhood where they both live. It is reported that if the teenager's paternity is proven, he could face child sex abuse charges.

"Due to her age, her body is not able (or) in the best shape to have a baby," he said.

She has been receiving psychological counseling and will be monitored closely. Her mother also approved a subcutaneous birth-control device.

Gonzalez confirmed that the girl has told authorities that the teenager is her boyfriend.

She told her mother that she had been dating the teen who is believed to be the father.

"We are looking for the young man to get his story because the girl does not understand what has happened," said Jorge Villasenor, another representative from the prosecutor's office according to USA Today. "This is either rape or child sex abuse."

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