Northern states continue to lead in teenage pregnancy rates in Nigeria, according to the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report.
The report, released on Sunday in Abuja under the National Health Act (2014), highlighted adolescent reproductive health trends nationwide and revealed stark regional disparities. It showed that 32 per cent of girls aged 15–19 in Kebbi have been pregnant, followed by 30 per cent each in Zamfara and Kaduna, while Lagos and Edo recorded about three per cent.
The findings, drawn from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), underline the need for targeted interventions to improve adolescent reproductive health outcomes. Teenage pregnancy increases the risks of maternal and child morbidity and mortality and contributes to social challenges, including school dropout among adolescent girls in high-risk states.
The report also noted a protective effect of education: pregnancy prevalence drops from 34 per cent among girls with no schooling to four per cent among those with education beyond secondary school.
The 2025 report highlighted expanded adolescent-focused interventions aimed at improving reproductive health and advancing Universal Health Coverage. Efforts include strengthening primary healthcare services, community outreach, and adolescent-friendly programmes in family planning, HIV prevention, and sexually transmitted infection management.
Community health workers provide counselling and selected services, helping adolescents in remote areas access reproductive health support.
Improvements were also recorded in school- and community-based water, sanitation, and hygiene programmes, boosting adolescent well-being and reducing preventable infections.
Menstrual hygiene management showed significant progress, with 95 per cent of girls able to wash and change privately at home, and 94 per cent using appropriate menstrual materials.
However, the report raised concerns about adolescent mental health and substance abuse, noting rising alcohol, tramadol, and cannabis use among secondary school students.
Adolescents aged 10–24 account for about 32 per cent of Nigeria’s population and bear a high burden of mental health disorders, particularly depression and anxiety.
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