Integrated multisectoral approaches to adolescent pregnancy prevention: a case study of the Momentum Tikweze Umoyo Project in Malawi

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy has serious health, social, and economic consequences, including increased maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in low-resource settings. In Malawi, high adolescent pregnancy rates are driven by factors such as poverty, limited education, and restricted access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. This case study is based on the USAID-funded Momentum Tikweze Umoyo Project, which implemented a multisectoral intervention aimed at preventing adolescent pregnancies in five districts in Malawi. The approach involved engaging diverse stakeholders, including traditional leaders, youth groups, government sectors (education, social services, health, law enforcement, and judiciary), and civil society organizations (CSOs), to create an enabling environment for change. The project also focused on capacity building, providing training for health workers, conducting regular data reviews, and conducting a co-creation workshop for stakeholder collaboration. District-level data showed a 430% increase in family planning (FP) and SRH service uptake in targeted areas, leading to a 21% reduction in teenage pregnancies where services remained accessible. However, in areas where service delivery was disrupted by disasters, adolescent pregnancies increased by 38%, highlighting the vulnerability of young people in crisis settings. While the monitoring period was limited, the findings reinforce the need for sustained multisectoral collaboration, data-driven advocacy, and targeted interventions to effectively reduce adolescent pregnancies and improve maternal and child health outcomes. Strengthening coordination between government sectors and CSOs is crucial to sustaining progress and ensuring that adolescent SRH services remain accessible, especially in disaster-prone areas.