Malawi 2015-16

• The percentage of women age 15-19 who have begun
childbearing ranges from 25% in the Central region to
32% in both Northern and Southern regions (Figure 5.6).
Figure 5.6 Teenage pregnancy
and motherhood by region
• Teenage women in the lowest wealth quintile are more
likely to have begun childbearing than women in the
highest wealth quintile. The percentage of women who
have began childbearing decreases from 44% among
women in the lowest wealth quintile to 15% of women in
the highest wealth quintile (Figure 5.7).
Figure 5.7 Teenage pregnancy and
motherhood by household wealth
44
Percentage of women age 15-19 who
have begun childbearing
35
31
25
15
Lowest Second Middle Fourth Highest
Poorest
Wealthiest
5.6.2 Sexual and Reproductive Behaviours before Age 15
Among women and men age 15-19, 13% of women
and 22% of men had their first sexual intercourse
before age 15. However, within this same age group,
only 4% women and less than 1% of men were
married by age 15. This indicates that many young
people have their first sexual intercourse before
marriage. One percent of women and no men age
15-19 gave birth or fathered a child, respectively,
before age 15 (Figure 5.8).
Figure 5.8 Sexual and reproductive
health behaviours before age 15
Percentage of women and men age 15-19
13
22
Women
Men
4
0
1
0
Had sexual
intercourse
before age 15
Married before
age 15
Gave birth/
fathered a child
before age 15
74 • Fertility