Malawi: Malawi's Teenage Pregnancy Rate Hits 32 Percent As Advocates Call for Stronger Sexual Health Investment

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a Nyasa Times report by Wilfred Golden, says two Malawian groups are urging greater investment in adolescent sexual and reproductive health rights as the country’s teenage pregnancy rate is reported to have reached 32%. The Centre for Social Research (CSR) and Women for Sustainable Agile Development in Malawi (WOSAD) made the appeal during a one-day workshop on reporting adolescent and sexual reproductive health rights in Lilongwe on Wednesday, according to the report dated July 22, 2026.

Witness Alfonso, a research fellow at CSR at the University of Malawi, told Nyasa Times that adolescents need better access to comprehensive sexuality information to help girls avoid early pregnancy. He identified poverty as a major factor behind teenage pregnancy and said government and other stakeholders should address such drivers more directly. The report said Alfonso compared the current 32% figure with 29% in 2016, arguing that the situation has deteriorated despite years of interventions.

WOSAD executive director Judith Pangani said the organisation has been involved since 2021 in efforts addressing teenage pregnancy and child marriage, including support for stronger implementation of laws and policies on adolescent reproductive health education and gender equality. She said WOSAD has worked with service providers and young people, and has used digital platforms and radio to broaden access to information.

Nyasa Times reported that CSR and WOSAD have partnered since 2022 with support from the African Population and Health Research Center, a Nairobi-based research institution focused on evidence for policy in health, education and population issues. The development matters because adolescent pregnancy can affect girls’ schooling, health and economic prospects, making prevention and access to accurate information key public policy concerns.