Reducing teenage pregnancy remains a national priority in Rwanda. Over the years, government institutions and civil society organizations have invested in awareness campaigns, adolescent sexual and reproductive health programmes, girls' education, and the prevention of gender-based violence. Building on these efforts, the 20th National Umushyikirano Council resolved to strengthen campaigns and educational measures to curb the continued prevalence of teenage pregnancy. ALSO READ: Teen pregnancy rises to 8% as experts warn of growing risks The resolution reflects an important commitment to prevention and provides an opportunity to further strengthen existing efforts through complementary interventions that address the broader factors influencing teenage pregnancy. ALSO READ: The daunting effects of teenage pregnancy The importance of doing so is reflected in the far-reaching consequences of teenage pregnancy. Beyond childbirth, it can interrupt a girl's education, limit her economic opportunities, expose her to stigma, and increase health risks. According to the United Nations Population Fund UNFPA Rwanda, teenage pregnancy remains a major barrier to girls' education and economic empowerment. It is therefore not only a health concern, but also an education, child protection, gender equality, and development issue. ALSO READ: Over 78,000 babies born to teen mothers in four years The scale of the challenge reinforces its urgency. According to the 2025 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS), 8% of girls aged 15–19 had experienced pregnancy, up from 5% in the 2019–2020 survey. This significant increase suggests that, while important progress has been made, additional measures are needed to sustain and accelerate the country's efforts. Evidence from government reports, civil society organizations, and recent studies points to a consistent message. Teenage pregnancy is shaped by a combination of interconnected factors, including poverty, educational inequality, limited access to adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, sexual violence, weak parental engagement, and social and economic conditions that vary across provinces and between rural and urban areas. Awareness campaigns remain an essential part of prevention, but they are likely to achieve greater impact when complemented by interventions that address these underlying drivers. Strengthening these efforts together offers a more comprehensive and sustainable response to reducing teenage pregnancy. One of the clearest drivers of teenage pregnancy is poverty. Poverty pushes many girls out of school, exposing some to exploitation and transactional relationships, all of which increase the likelihood of teenage pregnancy. This pattern is reflected across Rwanda. For example, in Southern Province records the country's highest multidimensional poverty rate (35.2%), suggesting that challenging socioeconomic conditions can increase girls' financial dependence and vulnerability to teenage pregnancy. The Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS) shows that adolescents from poorer backgrounds are more likely to experience teenage pregnancies than those from wealthier households. Although teenage pregnancy affects girls from all socioeconomic backgrounds, it disproportionately affects girls living in poverty. These findings show that while awareness campaigns can strengthen knowledge and encourage positive behaviour, they achieve greater impact when reinforced by interventions that reduce poverty and economic vulnerability, strengthen child protection, and keep girls in school. Low literacy and limited educational attainment can increase the risk of teenage pregnancy by restricting girls' access to information, informed decision-making, and future opportunities. The Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS) also shows that adolescents whose parents attained secondary education or higher are less likely to experience teenage pregnancy, while girls who remain in school are substantially less likely to experience teenage pregnancy. Eastern Province records the country's lowest youth literacy rate (84%), compared with 94% in Kigali. Lower literacy can make it more difficult for girls to access, understand, and act on information about sexual and reproductive health increasing the risk of teenage pregnancy. Together, these findings suggest that while awareness campaigns can improve knowledge, their impact can be further strengthened through measures that improve literacy, keep girls in school, and remove the barriers that prevent them from completing their education. Access to sexual and reproductive health services remains a critical factor in preventing teenage pregnancy. Yet many adolescents continue to face barriers, including stigma, restrictive social norms, limited youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, and inadequate access to modern contraception. As a result, awareness campaigns alone are unlikely to reduce teenage pregnancy unless they are reinforced by efforts to improve access to these essential services. Weak access to justice and legal protection also contributes to teenage pregnancy. Research shows that exploitative relationships continue to expose many girls to teenage pregnancy, yet many perpetrators never face prosecution, and a large proportion of cases do not progress through the justice system. These findings suggest that awareness campaigns alone cannot protect girls from exploitation, highlighting the need to strengthen child protection systems and improve access to justice. Taken together, the strength of the 20th National Umushyikirano Council resolution lies in its recognition that preventing teenage pregnancy remains a national priority. The evidence presented in this article suggests that its impact can be further enhanced by complementing awareness campaigns with interventions that address the underlying conditions that continue to place many girls at risk. In doing so, Rwanda can build on its existing progress while advancing a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to preventing teenage pregnancy. To maximize the implementation and impact of the 20th National Umushyikirano Council resolution, we call on: MIGEPROF, MOYA, local governments, and development partners to complement awareness campaigns with economic empowerment initiatives that reduce girls' vulnerability to teenage pregnancy. MINEDUC and REB to strengthen school retention and reintegration programs, enabling more girls to remain in school and complete their education. The Ministry of Health (MOH), MINEDUC, and district authorities to expand access to adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, particularly in high-burden districts. District authorities to strengthen the implementation of the resolution through locally tailored interventions that respond to the specific drivers of teenage pregnancy in their communities. RIB, NPPA, RNP, and child protection actors to strengthen the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of sexual exploitation involving minors. MINIJUST and legal aid providers to expand access to justice and legal support for survivors of sexual exploitation. Parents, schools, community leaders, faith-based organizations, and civil society organizations to strengthen parent-child communication and community-based sexuality education promoting informed decision-making among adolescents. Relevant government institutions and NISR to strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems that measure the implementation and impact of the Umushyikirano resolution. The writer is a research officer at Never Again Rwanda.
