Situational Analysis on Early and Unintended Pregnancy in Eastern and Southern Africa

Early and unintended pregnancy (EUP) is a global public health concern. Extremely prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, it is driven by multiple factors, including poverty, lack of information and access to reproductive health services, cultural norms, peer pressure, and sexual coercion and abuse. Among other negative consequences for adolescent girls, including for their health, social, and economic outcomes, EUP jeopardizes educational attainment due to school dropout and decreased school completion. Preventing EUP is therefore an important component of a wider response to ensuring the right to education for all girls, requiring an effective response from the education sector in collaboration with other sectors.