Nearly 1 in 4 Teen Girls Pregnant in Zimbabwe

Rutendo Mazhindu - ZimNow Reporter

Nearly one in four teenage girls in Zimbabwe has fallen pregnant, with the highest rates recorded in rural provinces, according to the latest Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) 2023–24.

The survey, conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), revealed that 23 percent of girls aged 15 to 19 had ever been pregnant, with 17 percent having already given birth and 6 percent pregnant at the time of the survey.

The report noted that teenage pregnancy is more prevalent in rural areas, where 30 percent of girls aged 15 to 19 had ever been pregnant, compared to 15 percent in urban areas.

Mashonaland Central recorded the highest provincial prevalence at 37 percent, followed by Mashonaland West at 29 percent. Bulawayo and Harare recorded the lowest prevalence at **13 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

The survey attributed the high rates to early sexual debut, poverty, and limited access to reproductive health services. Girls from the poorest households and those with lower levels of education were the most affected.

In the area of family planning, the report showed that 54 percent of women aged 15 to 49 were currently using a contraceptive method, with 53 percent using modern methods.

The pill was the most commonly used, cited by 27 percent of users.

However, 7 percent of women still had an unmet need for family planning, although 87 percent of total demand was being met with modern contraceptive methods.

The ZDHS was implemented by ZIMSTAT in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, with funding from the Government of Zimbabwe, USAID, UNFPA, and the Global Fund. Fieldwork for the survey was conducted between December 2023 and May 2024.