Published in PLOS One on 2026-09-30, this study is presented as an attributed evidence briefing. The excerpts below are the original researchers’ words, reproduced under their Creative Commons Attribution licence. Health Signal has selected the abstract and, where needed, opening background paragraphs; the complete methods, results, limitations and references remain in the linked paper.
Original authors: Suliat Fehintola Akinwande, Kehinde Oluwatosin Akinwande, Tanzil Islam, Carmen Logie
Source: PLOS One • DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0346835
Read the complete primary study ↗ · Creative Commons Attribution licence
From the researchers
Abstract
The population of adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is projected to reach approximately 160 million by 2030, with nearly one-third expected to transition into motherhood. Despite this, there persists a significant knowledge gap regarding the dynamics of food insecurity among adolescent mothers in a region that bears nearly 10% of the global burden of food insecurity. Marginalized adolescent mothers in resource-constrained settings experience heightened vulnerability to food insecurity due to structural disadvantages that reinforce intergenerational cycles of deprivation and impede progress toward achieving equity and improved well-being among adolescent mothers. We conducted a scoping review, following the Arksey and O’Malley framework enhanced by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, to examine the drivers, coping strategies, and mental, sexual, and reproductive health impacts associated with food insecurity among adolescent mothers (10–19 years) in SSA. We searched five databases and identified 263 non-duplicate records, of which 16 met the inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis revealed that the drivers of food insecurity were economic (poverty and economic constraints), social (stigma, family size, and caregiving responsibilities), and ecological (infertile land) factors. Coping strategies included economic-based activities, reliance on social support, and high-risk behaviours. Food insecurity had ripple effects on sexual and reproductive health, including coerced, age-disparate, and substance-influenced sex, and adverse mental health outcomes such as depression and suicide attempts. This review highlights the need for further research to drive meaningful advancements in policy and practice related to food security among adolescent mothers in SSA.
Introduction
Adolescent motherhood is a significant global issue, with 21 million pregnancies occurring annually worldwide among girls aged 15–19, half of which are unintended [1]. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) reports the highest rate of childbirth among adolescent girls (aged 10–14) [1]. The health and social consequences of adolescent motherhood are particularly pronounced, as adolescence is a critical developmental stage marked by ongoing physical, emotional, and cognitive maturation [2]. This developmental vulnerability contributes to elevated maternal mortality and adverse social outcomes among adolescent mothers [3,4].
Prevailing social perceptions further compound the challenges of adolescent mothers, as they are often subjected to stigmatizing narratives that portray them as irresponsible or promiscuous [4]. Such stigma restricts access to education, healthcare, and social support, thereby deepening their exposure to resource insecurity, particularly food insecurity [5,6]. This is especially concerning in SSA, where hunger and food insecurity remain disproportionately high. Recent estimates indicate that more than 20% of the population in SSA experienced hunger in 2024, compared with 8.2% globally, and the region is projected to account for nearly 60% of the world’s chronically undernourished population by 2030 [7].
Reading this evidence
Use the full paper to check the study design, participant selection, comparator and outcome definitions before drawing a practical conclusion. An association does not by itself show cause and effect. A reported performance measure needs its denominator and uncertainty. A finding from a particular facility, sample or time period should retain that scope when it is discussed elsewhere.
This briefing makes the source accessible within the wider research & evidence desk. It does not assess an individual patient or certify a product. When considering relevance to another health system, examine the original authors’ account of context and limitations, then seek local implementation evidence. The related reporting below provides other studies to read alongside this one; it is a topic connection, rather than a claim that their results are directly comparable.
© 2026 Suliat Fehintola Akinwande, Kehinde Oluwatosin Akinwande, Tanzil Islam, Carmen Logie. Excerpts reproduced under CC BY. Selection, formatting and contextual notes by Health Signal. The researchers are the authors of the source study, not members of Health Signal’s staff.
Explore connected evidence
- Evidence brief: Pathways linking internalized HIV stigma to attitudes and beliefs toward ART through depression: Conditional indirect effects of food insecurity
- Evidence brief: Technology-facilitated gender-based violence against women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review
- Evidence brief: Interrelated adolescent-level food insecurity and common mental health disorders in Harari Region, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study
