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.
Adolescents who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) are often left out of the health and social programming. This is a disproportionately large group in sub-Saharan Africa that has experienced extreme marginalisation during the pandemic.
Early adolescence is a critical window for intervention when it is possible to lay a foundation for a safe transition to adulthood, before negative outcomes occur.
Adolescent girls face a range of challenges that may compromise their chances of completing school or their sexual and reproductive health.