Adolescent pregnancy is a significant health and social challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. The region has the highest adolescent fertility rate—over a quarter of adolescents begin childbearing before the age of 18 years compared to 13% globally. Early childbearing puts adolescents on a trajectory of poor health and social outcomes. Adolescent mothers are at higher risk for morbidity and mortality than women who give birth in their 20s. Their children are also at higher risk for poor health and social outcomes.
The high burden of adolescent pregnancy in the region has led (understandably) to a focus on interventions and programs to delay sexual activity and childbearing. One consequence of the emphasis on pregnancy prevention is a limited focus on research to understand the experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa or to develop and test appropriate interventions to improve health and social outcomes for these adolescents and their children.
To draw attention to the relatively small, but growing, body of research focused on pregnant and parenting adolescents in the region, we recently co-edited a special collection of the Reproductive Health journal that brings together a set of nine articles that report on research on pregnant and parenting adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Four key issues emerge from this body of work.
First, the research underscores the need to integrate pregnancy prevention and interventions to support adolescents who become parents. As described by Chamdimba and her colleagues, who draw on data from pregnant and parenting adolescents in Malawi, as well as their parents or guardians, girls’ vulnerability to early pregnancy stems from multiple factors. These factors include adolescents’ limited knowledge, their restricted access to contraceptives, poverty, and sexual violence. However, parents often blame adolescents for being stubborn and ignoring guidance about the value of abstinence. Blaming pregnant adolescents for their “deviance” is also reported by Alex-Ojei and her colleagues in their article, which reports on data from Nigeria. Unfortunately, as highlighted by Adedini and Omisakin, once girls become pregnant, they are at significant risk for repeat pregnancy because they often do not use contraceptives or discontinue use.
Second, the research documents a significant burden of intimate partner violence among pregnant and parenting adolescents, with younger adolescents and those who engage in transactional sex being at higher risk for violence. Gebrekristos’ and colleagues’ study points to the strong association between intimate partner violence during pregnancy and the risk for postpartum depression among adolescent mothers in South Africa.
Third, pregnant and parenting adolescents, particularly those who are unmarried, face high levels of stigma from the community, as well as providers. As highlighted by Undie and Birungi, these adolescents and their parents may live with deep psychological trauma. For some girls, the psychological trauma arises from the sexual violence that led to their pregnancies. For parents, the disappointment, anger and hurt experienced when they learn of their daughter’s pregnancy can lead to psychological trauma that can result in them forcing their daughters to leave home. Ajayi and colleagues also highlight the association between probable depression and paternity denial, as well as the lack of parental support among pregnant and parenting girls in Burkina Faso and Malawi. Taken together, the findings around the interpersonal violence, stigma, and psychological trauma faced by adolescent parents and their own parents highlights the need for violence prevention and mental health interventions targeting them.
Fourth, living in poverty may increase the risk for adolescent pregnancy. However, pregnancy may also exacerbate adolescents’ vulnerability to poverty, because adolescent parents are largely financially dependent on their families, but may be expelled from the family home following their pregnancies. Their exclusion from schooling further increases their socioeconomic precarity as they are denied the opportunity to gain critical skills.
Moving forward, increased investment in research on this sub-population is critical given evidence showing that research on pregnant and parenting adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa is skewed towards a few countries and, with few exceptions, is primarily observational research. Yet, research on this sub-population is needed to inform context-relevant interventions to support them and their families such as the PROMOTE Project being piloted in Burkina Faso and Malawi. The PROMOTE project seeks to test three interventions targeting adolescent mothers: cash transfers conditioned on schooling, childcare support and life skills training.
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Reproductive Health
This journal focuses on all aspects of human reproduction, including adolescent health, female fertility, contraception, and maternal health and all articles are open access.
Related Collections
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Reproductive Health Equity for Migrants, Refugees, and Internally Displaced Populations
This collection aims to assess disparities and barriers in access to maternal care, contraception, and safe delivery services among displaced populations —both within and across countries— compared to host communities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and developed countries. Displaced populations often face significant challenges in accessing essential healthcare services, which can lead to poorer health outcomes for mothers and infants. These challenges include higher rates of maternal and infant mortality, due to inadequate access to quality maternal care and contraception, as well as increased rates of cervical and breast cancer, due to low rates of vaccination and inadequate screening.
The collection welcomes studies that explore various approaches to address these disparities, including:
• Improving cultural competency among healthcare providers. By understanding and respecting the cultural backgrounds of displaced populations, healthcare providers can offer more effective and personalized care.
• Increasing financial access to healthcare services. Many displaced individuals face financial barriers that prevent them from seeking necessary medical care. Strategies to reduce these financial obstacles can significantly improve health outcomes.
• Involving communities in the design and implementation of health programs. Community engagement ensures that health interventions are tailored to the specific needs and preferences of the populations they serve. This participatory approach can lead to more sustainable and impactful health programs.
• Encouraging innovative approaches and the implementation of relevant technologies among migrants and refugees.
• Raising awareness of prevention, screening, and access to care for cervical and breast cancers.
Overall, this collection aims to highlight innovative solutions and best practices to reduce health disparities and improve maternal and infant health among international and internally displaced populations.
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 1, No Poverty, SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being, and SDG 10, Reduced Inequalities.
We are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or contact the Editor-in-Chief.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Mar 20, 2026
Exploring the Role of Menstruation in School Girls’ Sexual and Reproductive Health in Low-Resource Settings
This collection seeks to examine the multifaceted impact of menstruation—including menstrual health, hygiene, and justice—on adolescent girls’ sexual and reproductive health (SRH) within educational settings in low-resource contexts. These include low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), high-income countries (HICs) with marginalized populations, and communities facing socioeconomic disadvantages, homelessness, or geographic isolation (e.g., rural and remote areas).
We aim to spotlight how inadequate menstrual health in these contexts can hinder girls’ educational experiences and broader life outcomes. Poor menstrual health is not only a barrier to consistent school attendance and academic performance but also has far-reaching implications for sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and long-term economic empowerment. We are particularly interested in studies that explore the intersectionality of menstrual health with other social determinants of health and education, and that evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, policies, and innovative approaches aimed at improving menstrual equity.
We welcome original research—both qualitative and quantitative—that investigates the challenges adolescent girls face with regards menstrual health while attending school, including those linked to reproductive and sexual health, and that proposes actionable solutions. Key areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Sociocultural taboos, stigma, and lack of a supportive school environment
• Educational gaps in menstrual and reproductive health literacy
• Causes of menstruation-related school absenteeism beyond a lack of products, and this absenteeism’s impact on academic and psychosocial outcomes
• Strategies to engage boys and male educators in fostering a positive and inclusive menstrual health culture
• Understanding the links between menstruation and other areas of sexual and reproductive health, including the links between menstruation and reproductive justice, and contraception and family planning
By bringing together diverse perspectives and evidence-based research, this collection aspires to inform policy, guide program development, and ultimately contribute to the empowerment and well-being of adolescent girls in under-resourced educational settings.
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 4, Quality Education, SDG 6, Clean Water and Sanitation, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequality.
We are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or contact the Editor-in-Chief.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Feb 27, 2026
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