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Malawi Sees Increase in Pregnancies, Early Marriage in School-age Girls

Lameck Masina

   PHALOMBE, MALAWI - Malawi has one of the highest rates of early
   marriage and teenage pregnancy in the world, with about half of girls
   marrying before the age of 18, according to government records.'¯Aid
   groups say the coronavirus pandemic's closing of schools has worsened
   the trend.

   A 17-year-old girl from the Phalombe district, who asked not to be
   identified by name, says she became hopeless when the government closed
   schools in March.

   Like many other girls in poor rural areas, where schools provide a
   favorite pastime, the teen struggled to find ways to make money.'¯

   "We instead resorted to go about places doing piece jobs to earn money,
   but when the piece jobs became scarce, I had no other option but to
   start a relationship with a man," she said.

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