Supporting adolescent mothers in sub-Saharan Africa means supporting two generations at once
A new review of research from across sub-Saharan Africa found that inadequate access to food is linked to depression, suicide attempts, HIV vulnerabilities and poorer sexual and reproductive health outcomes among adolescent mothers.
In sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent mothers face a dual set of challenges: supporting their own well-being while also nurturing the next generation. A new review of research from across the region reveals that inadequate food access is not merely a nutritional issue, but a major health and social equity concern. The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, underscores the importance of placing adolescent mothers at the forefront of policies aimed at improving food security, health, and social equity.
Lead author Suliat Fehintola Akinwande, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Toronto, explains that food insecurity among adolescent mothers is a complex problem, rooted in poverty, disrupted education, stigma, and limited livelihood opportunities. These factors intertwine to create a cycle of disadvantage that impacts both the young mothers and their children.
Reviewing evidence from 16 studies across seven countries, the researchers identified poverty as the most common driver of food insecurity, alongside school dropout, limited employment options, low literacy, and financial hardship.
Social and ecological factors also play a role, with stigma surrounding adolescent pregnancy often leading to rejection by family and community, reducing access to support. Environmental challenges like poor infrastructure and declining agricultural productivity in some areas further limit food access. When faced with food shortages, adolescent mothers may resort to informal work, farming, social support networks, or reducing meal sizes to survive. However, severe food insecurity can push young mothers towards risky survival strategies.
The review also highlights a strong link between food insecurity and poor mental health among adolescent mothers. Multiple studies found higher rates of depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts among those struggling with food insecurity. Another concerning finding was the association between food insecurity and sexual health risks, including transactional sex, age-disparate relationships, substance-influenced sex, and difficulties adhering to HIV treatment among adolescent mothers living with HIV.
The authors emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive support, including expanded food assistance programs, school reentry initiatives, livelihood training, mental health services, and adolescent-friendly healthcare. They also call for more research to better understand food insecurity among adolescent mothers and develop evidence-based solutions to break intergenerational cycles of disadvantage.
These young mothers often find themselves in situations beyond their control, their circumstances shaped by poverty, child marriage, unintended pregnancies, gender inequities, disrupted education, and limited access to healthcare.
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