Ethiopia targets sharp drop in teen pregnancy by 2030

ADDIS ABABA – The Ministry of Health (MoH) announced that Ethiopia is intensifying efforts to expand and strengthen family planning services nationwide as part of its broader strategy to reduce teenage pregnancy.

In collaboration with the Ministries of Women and Social Affairs, Education, Planning and Development, and other stakeholders, the MoH launched the Teenage Pregnancy Reduction Roadmap 2025–2030 on Thursday.

In his keynote address, State Minister of Health Dereje Duguma (MD) said the country is prioritizing the expansion of family planning services in all health institutions. Ensuring the availability of supplies, delivering youth-friendly services, and assigning well-trained health professionals are key components of the strategy, he noted.

“Teenage pregnancy is not just a health issue.It has serious social and economic consequences,” Dereje stressed. According to the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS), around 16% of adolescent girls in Ethiopia experience teenage pregnancy. The government has set an ambitious goal to reduce this figure to just 3% by 2030.

He added that strengthening family planning at all levels is essential not only to improve access to healthcare but also to contribute significantly to reducing teenage pregnancies.

Representing the Ministry of Education, State Minister Tewodros Shewarget(PhD) emphasized the critical role of education in addressing teenage pregnancy.

He noted that the Ministry has recently ratified two legal frameworks aimed at improving access to education for girls, aligning with global conventions and declarations that promote the right to education and gender equality.

“Enhancing school retention, especially in rural areas, expanding access to adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services including contraception and challenging harmful social norms through community-based interventions are key strategies,” Tewodros explained.

He also stressed that reducing teenage pregnancy requires integrated, multisectoral efforts, with active collaboration among communities, stakeholders, and development partners.

State Minister of Planning and Development Tirumar Abate echoed these sentiments, urging all concerned bodies to play their part in raising awareness and supporting coordinated action among sectors to tackle teenage pregnancy.

BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 8 JUNE 2025

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