“Preventing early pregnancy and poor reproductive outcomes among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries”: Webinar, 8 May 2025
Summary
Adolescent pregnancy remains a critical global issue, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where 21 million girls aged 15–19 become pregnant each year—half unintentionally. Although global adolescent birth rates have declined, progress is uneven, with the highest rates in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Social, economic, and cultural factors heavily influence adolescent pregnancy. Girls from poorer or less educated backgrounds are most affected. Child marriage, restrictive gender norms, and limited access to education and employment perpetuate cycles of early marriage and childbearing. Access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education and services remains limited. Many adolescents lack essential information on puberty, contraception, and sexual health. Barriers such as stigma, legal restrictions, and provider biases hinder access to contraception, with persistent inequities across regions and groups. The impacts of adolescent pregnancy go beyond health, affecting education, economic prospects, and social well-being. Addressing it requires coordinated, multisectoral efforts. Since the 2011 WHO guideline, new evidence has led to a more targeted approach, focusing on specific adolescent groups.
1. Preventing child marriage and responding to the needs and rights of married girls.
2. Improving adolescent access to, uptake of, and continued use of contraception.
Webinar objectives:
1. Launch the updated WHO guideline on preventing early pregnancy and poor reproductive outcomes among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries.
2. Host panel discussions with stakeholders to explore dissemination and implementation strategies and opportunities.
Here are five of the slides from the various presentations:
The whole webinar will be available in the coming days on the HRPMedia YouTube Channel: