This study of teenage pregnancy in Africa sets out to document the status, prevalence, drivers and consequences of teenage pregnancy across the continent. It makes use of a desk-based review of available secondary data and case studies from selected countries.
In 2019, there were 21 million pregnancies among adolescents aged 15–19 years globally; close to half of these pregnancies were unintended.
Background: Few studies have examined whether the effect of education on pregnancy and childbearing is due to the academic skills acquired or the social environment that schooling provides.
Worldwide, one in five girls has given birth by the age of 18. In the poorest regions of the world, this figure rises to over one in three girls. Adolescent births are more likely to occur among the poor, less educated, rural and indigenous populations.
In Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), 20 per cent of girls become pregnant before the age of 20, representing one of the world’s highest rates of adolescent pregnancy. This region also faces a pronounced challenge of adolescent parenthood.
In sub-Saharan Africa, just over two-thirds of girls complete their primary education and four in ten complete lower secondary education. More needs to be done to improve educational opportunities for girls, which would help end child marriage and boost countries’ economic development.
Adolescent pregnancy is a global public health problem. Numerous approaches for Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) delivery in schools have been implemented around the world.
In Mozambique, adolescent girls and women who are pregnant or parenting have long faced serious barriers and challenges to remain in school.
This report highlights key findings from the national assessment of adolescent pregnancy in Zimbabwe. The study was conducted to determine adolescent pregnancy prevalence in Zimbabwe and identify root causes leading to adolescent pregnancy, particularly in the wake of Covid-19.
It is established globally that girls encounter a myriad of problems at each age and every stage of their journey in education.