Pregnancy and motherhood among adolescent girls affected by HIV
In Eastern and Southern Africa, 20% of girls become pregnant before age 20. Adolescent mothers face challenges like school dropout, poverty, isolation, and increased HIV vulnerability, often with low partner support. These impact ART adherence among HIV-positive adolescents. Their children risk lower education, higher poverty, and becoming adolescent parents as well. Despite these significant challenges, there is limited research on improving outcomes for adolescent mothers and their children. The brief summarizes adolescents' experiences of pregnancy and early motherhood, focusing on those living with HIV, and highlights key programming considerations to promote positive pregnancy and parenting experiences and better outcomes.