In March, Stephanie Psaki of the Population Council asked: “Does getting pregnant cause girls to drop out of school?” If teen pregnancy and dropout rates are high, which causes which? Her question has far-reaching implications for international development interventions for adolescent girls.
Psaki argues that the answer depends largely on context. In an area where girls have access to quality education and opportunities for employment, and where girls and their parents value education (characterized as “Country A” by Psaki), getting pregnant may be the sole reason for school dropout and result in the economic disempowerment of women.
However, in “Country B,” the situation is more complex. There are fewer opportunities for girls, and parents and communities place little value on education for girls. Girls drop out of school for a host of reasons, and get married and/or pregnant because of a lack of other life options.