Strengthen girls’ education, savings and employment prospects to end adolescent pregnancies – WHO 

KAMPALA, April 27, 2025 –– In a bid to end the global crisis of adolescent pregnancy, the World Health Organization [WHO] has urged governments and stakeholders to prioritise girls’ education, economic empowerment and access to reproductive health services.

This guideline targets the leading cause of death among 15–19-year-old girls: complications from early pregnancy.

WHO is calling for rapid and coordinated action to end child marriage, ensure girls stay in school, and improve access to adolescent-friendly health information and services. These steps are crucial to reversing the cycle of early pregnancies, which continue to impact millions of young girls, especially in low and middle-income countries.

“Early pregnancies can have serious physical and psychological consequences for girls and young women, and often reflect fundamental inequalities that affect their ability to shape their relationships and their lives,” said Dr Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO.

Pascale added, “Tackling this issue means creating conditions where girls and young women can thrive—by ensuring they stay in school, are protected from violence, and have access to health services that respect their rights.”

More than 21 million adolescent girls become pregnant each year in low- and middle-income countries, with around half of these pregnancies being unintended. The consequences extend beyond health risks, impacting girls’ education, social standing, and long-term employment prospects—often trapping them and their families in cycles of poverty.

The WHO guideline emphasizes that strengthening girls’ education, financial independence, and job opportunities can provide viable alternatives to early marriage and childbearing. It also recommends laws that prohibit marriage before age 18, community engagement to change harmful social norms, and incentive-based programs—such as scholarships or stipends—to encourage girls to complete their secondary education.

“Early marriage denies girls their childhood and has severe consequences for their health,” said Dr Sheri Bastien, Scientist for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health at WHO. “Education is critical to changing the future for young girls, while empowering adolescents [both boys and girls], to understand consent, make informed choices, and challenge the gender inequalities that fuel child marriage and teen pregnancy.”

Additionally, the guideline stresses the importance of comprehensive sexuality education and ensuring adolescents can access a full range of contraceptive options without barriers such as mandatory parental consent. Access to safe, respectful care during and after pregnancy, including safe abortion services where legal, is also highlighted as essential.

While global progress has been made with adolescent birth rates decreasing in many regions alarming disparities remain. In some countries, as many as 1 in 10 girls aged 15–19 still give birth each year. The WHO’s latest effort seeks to build on past successes and galvanise further action to protect the health and rights of adolescent girls worldwide.

https://thecooperator.news/lack-of-proper-parenting-escalating-teenage-pregnancies-in-masindi/

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