Teenage Pregnancy in Africa: An Analysis and Framework for Reform

To tackle the problem of high rates of teenage pregnancy in many African nations, the Center for Reproductive Rights supported the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) in a detailed assessment and analysis of teenage pregnancy in Africa, including case studies from Central African Republic, Chad, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Mauritania, and Uganda.  

The report, Teenage Pregnancy in Africa—Status, Progress and Challenges, outlines how reforms through education, human rights frameworks, and community intervention can help reduce the prevalence of teen pregnancy and makes key recommendations for various stakeholders. 

The Center’s Africa Program works to document reproductive rights violations, hold governments accountable for such violations, and advocate for laws and policies that ensure access to the full range of reproductive health services and information.  

Approximately one in every five adolescent girls across Africa experiences pregnancy before the age of 19, with the rate exceeding 25% in 24 countries. These girls often face societal backlash, including discrimination, stigma, and rejection, from family, peers, and service providers in healthcare and education.  

Released in April, the report explores the prevalence, causes, and impacts of teenage pregnancy across the continent and assesses the impact of laws and policies on the accessibility of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services for teenage girls. 

Highlights from the report include:

• In most African countries, negative societal attitudes, poverty, and a lack of education contribute significantly to teenage pregnancy. Other factors like living in rural areas, forced entry into adult relationships through child marriage, and living with disabilities increase the likelihood of teenage pregnancy.  
• Teenage pregnancy significantly impacts the health of both mother and child, leading to higher rates of morbidity and mortality, medical complications, and increased risks. Unsafe abortions further endanger adolescent health. 
• Pregnant teens and teen mothers experience stigmatization, exclusion, and discrimination, impacting their mental health and hindering their academic progress and future opportunities, contributing to a cycle of educational and economic disadvantage.  
• Adolescents face numerous obstacles in the availability, accessibility and provision of SRH services, including lack of knowledge, negative cultural stigma, and structural barriers within healthcare systems.

The study outlines recommendations for government, community rights groups, and other relevant stakeholders. These include:

• States Parties should establish and uphold legal, policy, and educational frameworks that guarantee teenagers’ access to comprehensive SRH education within schools; ensure that pregnant teens and teen mothers continue with their education; and ensure appropriate training for all health care professionals in contact with teenagers.
• The African Union should encourage Member States to ratify relevant human instruments such as the Maputo Protocol, which guarantees comprehensive rights to women; withdraw reservations on ratified instruments; and incorporate ratified treaties into domestic laws and policies.
• Community leaders and organizations should work with State Parties to shift cultural norms that devalue girls and unfairly attribute the responsibility for teenage pregnancy to them.
• The media should disseminate accurate information on the risks associated with sexual behavior, promoting safe and healthy sexual practices, including contraception use, and expanding the dialogue to include the prevention of sexually transmitted infections.

The study’s findings reveal the complex dynamics of teenage pregnancy in Africa, underscoring the roles of socio-economic, cultural, and legal factors in its prevalence and the profound effects on adolescents’ health, education, and societal inclusion.