By Bunmi Yekini
A new study conducted in rural Zambia reveals that while financial support can help girls stay in school and delay early pregnancies, the effects may diminish once the support ends. The findings highlight the need for longer-term strategies to combat adolescent pregnancies in low- and middle-income countries.
The study published in eClinicalMedicine, involved 157 schools and over 5,000 girls averaging 14 years of age. The research was conducted by experts from the University of Zambia, University of Bergen, Chr. Michelsen Institute, and the Norwegian School of Economics.
Over a 4.5-year period, researchers observed that providing two years of economic support combined with sexuality education and community dialogues moderately reduced births during the intervention. However, the impact was not sustained after the financial aid stopped.
Professor Ingvild Sandøy from the University of Bergen explained, “Short-term poverty-reducing measures like cash transfers need to be paired with long-term initiatives to significantly reduce teenage pregnancies. The short duration of support in this study was likely a key limitation.”
The study, which was funded by the Research Council of Norway and the Swedish International Development Agency, found that financial difficulties remain a significant barrier to education for girls, with many families unable to afford school fees once the intervention ended. Professor Patrick Musonda from the University of Zambia commended Zambia’s recent decision to eliminate secondary school fees, saying, “This is a game-changer. Keeping children in school longer will likely reduce the risk of early pregnancies.”
The researchers emphasize the need for comprehensive approaches, including improved access to healthcare and contraceptives for adolescents, to address the complex issue of teenage pregnancies.