The violent truth about teenage pregnancy – What children say

Teenage pregnancy is often identified by children and young people as one of the critical issues in their communities. Across World Vision programmes in subSaharan Africa, children see teenage pregnancy as a major impediment to the education, health and wellbeing of their peers. This is not a surprise given that nearly one-fifth of all girls become pregnant while still in their adolescence in Africa, and girls who give birth before the age of 15 are five times more likely to die in childbirth than women in their 20s.

Recently, World Vision worked with children across seven countries in Africa to undertake research looking into this issue. The child-led and participatory research projects uncovered a strong connection between teenage pregnancy and sexual violence and abuse.
Approximately 15 million adolescent girls (aged 15 – 19) worldwide have experienced forced sexual intercourse or other sexual acts at some point in their life. A growing number of studies, particularly from subSaharan Africa, indicate that the first sexual experience of girls is often unwelcome and forced.

For many girls, sexual abuse leads to unwanted pregnancy as teenage girls who have been forced into sex are less likely to have the opportunity or choice to use contraceptives.
The evidence shows that in many places girls are at greatest risk of exposure to sexual violence within the context of close relationships such as those with family, friends and intimate partners.