Learner pregnancy in South Africa’s Eastern Cape: The Factors affecting adolescent girls' school withdrawal during pregnancy

An early pregnancy often puts an end to a girls’ education. However, few studies have investigated which factors affect adolescents’ school discontinuation during pregnancy. This study interviewed 1,046 adolescent mothers from the Eastern Cape province in South Africa. The results showed that quarter of school-going girls withdrew - many as first trimester. School withdrawal was associated with higher poverty, grade repetition, unplanned and unwanted pregnancy, greater lack information about Given high enrolment rates at onset school-based services may provide opportunity identify require substantial support remain education throughout using history poor performance indicator for dropout.