By Bunmi Yekini
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released a new guideline aimed at preventing adolescent pregnancies, calling for urgent and comprehensive action to address one of the leading global causes of death among girls aged 15 to 19.
The guideline, announced this week, urges governments, health systems, and communities to strengthen efforts to end child marriage, keep girls in school, and expand access to sexual and reproductive health services and information, all key to reducing early pregnancies.
“Early pregnancies can have serious physical and psychological consequences for girls and young women,” said Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO. “Tackling this issue means creating conditions where girls and young women can thrive – by ensuring they can stay in school, be protected from violence and coercion, and access health services that uphold their rights.”
Each year, more than 21 million adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries become pregnant, and about half of those pregnancies are unintended. These pregnancies often result in long-term consequences, from school dropouts and reduced job prospects to serious health risks, including infections, preterm births, and complications from unsafe abortions.
The causes of adolescent pregnancy are complex, often stemming from poverty, gender inequality, and lack of access to sexual and reproductive health services. A strong link exists between child marriage and early births: in low- and middle-income countries, 9 in 10 adolescent births occur among girls who were married before the age of 18.
“Early marriage denies girls their childhood and has severe consequences for their health,” said Dr. Sheri Bastien, WHO Scientist for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health. “Education is critical to change the future for young girls, while empowering adolescents – both boys and girls – to understand consent, take charge of their health, and challenge the major gender inequalities that continue to drive early pregnancies.”
Read Also: Global Health Agencies Warn of Rising Vaccine-Preventable Disease Outbreaks Amidst Funding Cuts
The guideline recommends a multifaceted approach, including laws to prohibit marriage below age 18, community engagement to challenge harmful norms, and incentives such as financial stipends or scholarships to help girls stay in school. Research shows that universal secondary education could cut child marriages by two-thirds.
The WHO also highlights the need for adolescent-responsive health services that provide access to contraception without requiring adult consent, a common barrier in many countries. Pregnant adolescents must also receive respectful and stigma-free care throughout pregnancy and childbirth, and have access to safe abortion where legal.
Comprehensive sexuality education is another pillar of the recommendations. Evidence shows it helps delay the onset of sexual activity, improves knowledge of reproductive health, and reduces rates of early pregnancy.
While progress has been made over the past two decades, with global adolescent birth rates dropping from 1 in 15 to 1 in 25, disparities persist. In some countries, as many as 1 in 10 adolescent girls give birth each year.
WHO says its new guideline builds on its 2011 edition and complements related guidance on adolescent health services, sexuality education, and gender-based violence. The agency emphasises that investing in girls’ health and rights isn’t just a moral imperative — it’s essential for long-term development, gender equality, and breaking cycles of poverty.