What in the World Teens in Rwanda get access to family planning without parental consent
Sep 18, 2025
Dorcas Wangira, a BBC Africa health correspondent, dives into Rwanda's groundbreaking new law allowing teens aged 15 to access contraceptives without parental consent. She highlights how this move aims to tackle the alarming teen pregnancy rates, seen as a national crisis. However, the law faces backlash from religious groups and social media. Dorcas discusses the availability of sex education, the stigmas surrounding teenage pregnancy, and the ongoing debates around comprehensive sex education in a country grappling with cultural norms.
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Law Expands Teen Access With Medical Oversight
- Rwanda's new law allows 15–17-year-olds to access contraceptives and sexual health services without parental consent.
- Healthcare professionals must still assess and prescribe appropriate contraceptives, keeping medical oversight in place.
High Teen Pregnancy Rates With Severe Outcomes
- Rwanda reported more than 20,000 pregnancies a year among teenagers, with many unplanned cases.
- The Ministry of Health found about 40% of babies born to teen mothers had severe outcomes like stunted growth.
Service Gaps Amplify The Problem
- Teenage pregnancy is common across East Africa despite modern information access.
- Cuts to international sexual health programs, like changes at USAID, have reduced service availability and worsened the problem.