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The national government has launched special health cards for teenage mothers to enhance access to healthcare.
In a statement on Saturday, June 21, 2025, Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale stated that the cars will ensure advancement of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the country.
“In a push for Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the Ministry of Health has introduced special health cards for teenage mothers, removing barriers that often deny them access to essential care,” he stated.
“This targeted move ensures young mothers, who frequently face stigma and neglect, receive uninterrupted antenatal, postnatal, immunisation, family planning and psychosocial support,” he added.
Furthermore, he stated that the government aims to reduce maternal risks and school dropouts through insurance coverage.
“By formally integrating them into the health system, the government is reducing maternal risks and school dropouts while also addressing the cycle of intergenerational poverty, aligning with SDG 3,” he stated.
“Complementing existing programmes like Linda Mama, this initiative signals a shift from reactive to inclusive healthcare, where everyone, especially vulnerable teens, is incorporated into our healthcare systems,” he added.
Teenage pregnancy
This comes after the 2025 Economic Survey, released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) in May 2025, showed that teenage pregnancies declined in 2024.
The number of adolescents aged 10 to 19 who visited health facilities while pregnant during their first antenatal care appointment dropped by 4.8 per cent to 241,228. In 2023, the figure was 253,377.
“Older teens aged 15 to 19 registered 231,102 cases, showing a 4.3 per cent decline. Nairobi had the highest proportion of reported teenage pregnancies in 2024 at 6.1 per cent. Kakamega followed with 4.8 per cent, while Narok and Bungoma each reported 4.4 per cent,” read the survey.
In November 2024, a separate report titled Situational Analysis on Teen Pregnancies in Kenya looked into 20 counties and found that 27.4 per cent of girls aged 15 to 18 had been pregnant.
“Teenage pregnancy is a major challenge that deprives schoolgirls of the opportunity to further their education and attain their career goals,” the report stated.
The report links the problem to several social and environmental factors. These include early sexual debut, lack of parental supervision, and the influence of social media.
It also points out that national crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, drought in 2022, and flooding in late 2023 and 2024 contributed to the rise in cases during those periods.
