Drivers of and Solutions to Teenage Pregnancy and School Dropout in Malawi: A Qualitative Study

Chikondi Kasamba, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)
Claire Jensen, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)
Nyovani Madise, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)

This qualitative study explored the causes of teenage pregnancies and school dropout among school going teenagers in Malawi, as well as potential solutions. Key informant interviews with stakeholders and focus group discussions with teenagers were conducted at two schools in two districts, Mangochi and Dowa. Purposive sampling was used in the selection of respondents, for a total of 72 participants. Factors that lead to teenage pregnancies include: poverty, limited parental supervision, unprotected sex, peer influence, cultural practices, lack of role models, and marriage. Of these, some were found to be drivers of both teenage pregnancies and school dropout, namely poverty, marriage, peer pressure and cultural practices. Overall, the study established that cultural practices and poverty are the major factors that lead to teenage pregnancies and school dropout. For solutions, respondents mentioned construction of boarding facilities for girls, stiff punishment for perpetrators and providing school fees for students.