Fact Sheet: Lived Experiences of Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents in Korogocho, Nairobi Kenya

Abstract

This fact sheet condenses findings from a mixed-methods study on the lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescent girls in Korogocho, an informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya, implemented by the African Population and Health Research Center in partnership with Miss Koch Kenya and the Directorate of Children's Services, Nairobi County. The underlying study followed reports of rising adolescent childbearing during the COVID-19 pandemic, when community health volunteers identified 412 cases of pregnant and parenting adolescents in Korogocho, far exceeding initial estimates, with some girls as young as twelve. While considerable attention has gone toward reducing adolescent pregnancy rates, the fact sheet highlights that far less focus has been placed on the wellbeing of girls who are already pregnant or raising children. It presents key statistics on these girls' experiences accessing antenatal care and other services in an accessible format intended for policymakers, county officials, and community organizations working to strengthen support for pregnant and parenting adolescents in Nairobi's informal settlements.