INERELA+ addresses teenage pregnancy through comprehensive strategies focused on empowering girls, improving access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, and engaging communities to prevent unintended pregnancy through capacity building of Religious Leaders. We advocate for Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), promote girls’ education, and work to reduce barriers like stigma and discrimination against pregnant adolescents
On the 11th of June 2025 INERELA+ Executive Director attended a webinar titled Prevention of Early and Unintended Pregnancy Part 1, which was hosted by UNESCO.
Below are some highlights from the Webinar:
Dr. Avni Amin, the head of WHO’s Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, shared a WHO guideline on preventing early pregnancy and poor reproductive outcomes among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries.
The guideline highlighted evidence-based recommendations which emphasized interventions such as:
- Empowering girls with knowledge, skills, assets, and social networks.
- Engaging with parents/guardians, boys and men, and the broader community to create and sustain a gender-equitable and enabling environment.
- Preventing child marriage and responding to the needs of married girls by mobilizing key stakeholders
- Political, governmental, religious, traditional, and other influential leaders should be mobilized to support the prevention of child marriage
- Interventions to improve the quality of health services should be implemented to improve access to services among adolescents.
- Adolescents should be meaningfully engaged in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation their specific needs and rights
A Regional Perspective: The South African Experience
Muzi Stanley Ndlovu Director of Health Promotions under the Department of Basic Education offered a situational analysis of South Africa, pointing out that:
- Nearly 30% of teenage girls experience pregnancy, and 65% of these pregnancies are unplanned.
- 46% of sexual abuse complainants are from children which underscores the dire need for school- and community-based protection mechanisms.
Ndlovu highlighted the comprehensive policy and programmatic approach adopted by the South African Department of Basic Education to prevent Early Unintended Pregnancies (EUP) This includes:
- Strengthening Comprehensive Sexuality Education through curricula and co-curricular activities.
- Integration of services through the Integrated School Health Programme, including access to sexual and reproductive health services.
- Establishing referral systems, involving Learner Support Agents, and collaborating across departments (Health, Social Development, Women, and more).
- Promoting youth-led initiatives and dialogues to build agency and resilience among learners.
Lessons Learned and Shared Commitments
From the presentations and lively discussions several key lessons emerged:
- Multi-sectoral collaboration is critical. Sustainable outcomes require synchronized actions across education, health, and social services.
- Youth engagement is non-negotiable. Adolescents must be at the center of program design, implementation, and evaluation.
- Reducing stigma and misinformation is essential. These barriers impede service uptake and confidence among youth.
- Access to quality services must be expanded especially in under-resourced and rural settings.
The Role of Schools and Teachers in Preventing Early and Unintended Pregnancy (EUP)
Mpho Mathobo a schoolteacher, shared some successes from Langalibalele Dube Primary School in Lesotho, including
- Zero EUP cases at her school, which is attributed to:
- Effective Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE)
- Strong advocacy programs
- Partnerships with clinics, social workers, police, and other stakeholders
She highlighted the role that schoolteachers can play in preventing EUP , including:
- Providing daily guidance and advice to learners
- Building trust and open communication channels
- Collaborating with parents to reinforce values and life skills.