Teenage pregnancy and early childbearing are leading causes of girls dropping out of schools, and often result in increased health risks, social stigma and adverse economic impacts throughout the course of their lives.
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest regional rate of adolescent pregnancy in the world – discriminatory policies, gaps in the implementation of laws, lack of family support, childcare, school fees, negative social norms, and stigma are barriers that deter girls’ continuation in and re-entry to formal education.
This UKFIET blog discusses lessons from an initiative in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Zimbabwe addressing the challenges faced by pregnant girls and adolescent mothers to access formal education.