Abstract:
The teenage phase is a stage in life between childhood and adulthood. It is a distinctive stage of
human development at which good health prospects are founded. During this period, rapid
physical, cognitive and psychosocial growth is experienced. This affects their thinking, decision
making and how they interact with other people around them. At this stage, teenagers search for
new personalities and discern their sexuality which in some instances leads to premature
pregnancy and childbearing. Teenage pregnancy is a cause of concern in several sub-Saharan
African countries including Lesotho, where the number of girls dropping out of school due to
pregnancy and to raise new born babies rises. Teenage pregnancy is allied with socioeconomic
challenges leading to different education and employment goals among teenage mothers. Such
challenges include poverty, high underemployment/unemployment rates, high neighbourhood
level income inequality rates and low educational achievements. Due to high poverty rates in
Lesotho, teenagers residing in marginalised societies become desperate and make flawed choices
that lead to instant pleasure. Upon discovery of pregnancy however, many are left to deal with
the repercussions on their own. High mortality rates due to HIV/AIDS and Covid 19 have also
rendered girls in Lesotho vulnerable to teenage pregnancy and premature marriages. The purpose
of this study was to investigate the socio-economic factors that influenced teenagers’
engagement in unsafe sexual acts, and how teenage pregnancy results in health, educational and
economic costs. The study also investigated how pregnant teenagers are marginalised by the
family, teachers and society. Premised on the qualitative research design, with the snowball and
purposively sampled 25 respondents, the study used face-to-face interviews and focus group
discussion for data collection. The data analysis has thus revealed a correlation between teenage
pregnancy and poverty. The study has also found unplanned parenthood as having long-term
adverse socio-economic impacts on adolescent mothers, thereby restricting their education and
development prospects. It is, therefore, recommended that teenage girls should endeavour to
complete their education, learn new functional skills, gain some work experience and design a
future for themselves before starting a family.
