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Teenage pregnancy highest in Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, health report reveals
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Up to 32% of girls aged 15–19 in Kebbi have been pregnant
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Education shown to significantly reduce teenage pregnancy risk
Teenage pregnancy remains a major public health concern in Nigeria, with northern states recording the highest prevalence, according to the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report.
The report, released in Abuja and produced under the National Health Act 2014, highlighted significant regional disparities in adolescent reproductive health across the country.
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Findings showed that 32 percent of girls aged 15 to 19 in Kebbi State have experienced pregnancy, the highest rate nationwide. This was followed by Zamfara State and Kaduna State, where about 30 percent of teenage girls were reported to have been pregnant.
In contrast, southern states such as Lagos State and Edo State recorded much lower rates of about three percent.
The data, sourced from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2024, highlighted sharp regional differences and emphasised the need for targeted policies to improve adolescent reproductive health outcomes.
The report noted that teenage pregnancy increases the risk of maternal and child morbidity and mortality, while also contributing to social challenges such as school dropout among young girls.
It also found that education plays a protective role, as pregnancy prevalence dropped from 34 percent among girls with no schooling to about four percent among those with education beyond secondary school.
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Meanwhile, the report recorded improvements in menstrual hygiene management, with 95 percent of adolescent girls reporting they could wash and change privately at home, while 94 percent used appropriate menstrual materials.
However, concerns were raised about rising mental health challenges and substance abuse among adolescents, including increased use of alcohol, tramadol and cannabis among secondary school students.
The report added that adolescents and young people aged 10 to 24 account for about 32 percent of Nigeria’s population, many of whom face mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety.
It noted ongoing collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Health, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, World Health Organization, and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to address substance abuse and improve adolescent health outcomes nationwide.
