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211028 Pregnancy 510X288

Understanding Pathways to Adolescent Pregnancy in Southeast Asia

Past project

Adolescent pregnancy is a major public health and gender priority. Over one million girls in Southeast Asia commence childbearing during adolescence every year, and complications of pregnancy and childbirth remain a leading cause of death of girls aged 15-19 years in this region.

While adolescent birth rates have been declining globally, they have increased in Southeast Asia in the past two decades. The adolescent birth rate in Southeast Asia is now higher than that of South Asia (47 v 35 births per 1000 girls aged 15-19 years).

There is a paucity of qualitative research that attempts to elucidate the drivers of adolescent pregnancy in Southeast Asia, particularly since traditional forms of child marriage and early union are less common in this region. 

Objective

The aim of this project is to improve understanding of the drivers and pathways to adolescent pregnancy in Southeast Asia. The goal is to ensure that policies and programs to prevent unintended adolescent pregnancy are targeted at key points in girls’ pathways to becoming pregnant.

Timeline

2021–2022.

Approach

This multi-country qualitative study was conducted with girls in Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia and Cambodia. It used participatory methods to explore pathways to and drivers of adolescent pregnancy, and to co-develop with girls recommendations for policy and programs.

Reports

  • Understanding pathways to adolescent pregnancy in Southeast Asia

    Individual country reports on Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR and Malaysia findings.

Partners

Funding partners

  • UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Office 
  • UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office 

Collaborators

  • Indochina Research Limited Cambodia 
  • Empatika Indonesia 
  • Indochina Research Limited Laos  
  • Federation of Reproductive Health Association Malaysia 
  • UNFPA and UNICEF Cambodia Country Offices 
  • UNFPA and UNICEF Indonesia Country Offices 
  • UNFPA and UNICEF Lao PDR Country Offices 
  • UNFPA and UNICEF Malaysia Country Offices 

Project contacts

Dr Marie Habito

Dr Marie Habito

Senior Research Officer
marie.habito@burnet.edu.au
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Dr Elissa Kennedy

Dr Elissa Kennedy

Co-Program Director, Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health; Co-Head Global Adolescent Health
elissa.kennedy@burnet.edu.au +61392822119
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Project team

Dr Marie Habito

Dr Marie Habito

Senior Research Officer
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Dr Julie Hennegan

Dr Julie Hennegan

Senior Research Fellow
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Dr Elissa Kennedy

Dr Elissa Kennedy

Co-Program Director, Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health; Co-Head Global Adolescent Health
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Chandara Gnim

Chandara Gnim

Cambodia Country Lead
Indochina Research Limited Cambodia
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Dr Sherria Ayuandini

Dr Sherria Ayuandini

Indonesia Country Lead
Empatika Indonesia
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Dr Romyen Kosaikanont

Dr Romyen Kosaikanont

Lao PDR Country Lead
Mae Fah Luang University
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Associate Professor Suraya Abdul-Razak

Associate Professor Suraya Abdul-Razak

Malaysia Country Lead
Universiti Teknologi MARA
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