Food insecurity among adolescent girls who are mothers (10–19 years) in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review

The population of adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is projected to reach approximately 160 million by 2030, with nearly one-third expected to transition into motherhood. Despite this, there persists a significant knowledge gap regarding the dynamics of food insecurity among adolescent mothers in a region that bears nearly 10% of the global burden of food insecurity. Marginalized adolescent mothers in resource-constrained settings experience heightened vulnerability to food insecurity due to structural disadvantages that reinforce intergenerational cycles of deprivation and impede progress toward achieving equity and improved well-being among adolescent mothers. We conducted a scoping review, following the Arksey and O’Malley framework enhanced by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, to examine the drivers, coping strategies, and mental, sexual, and reproductive health impacts associated with food insecurity among adolescent mothers (10–19 years) in SSA. We searched five databases and identified 263 non-duplicate records, of which 16 met the inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis revealed that the drivers of food insecurity were economic (poverty and economic constraints), social (stigma, family size, and caregiving responsibilities), and ecological (infertile land) factors. Coping strategies included economic-based activities, reliance on social support, and high-risk behaviours. Food insecurity had ripple effects on sexual and reproductive health, including coerced, age-disparate, and substance-influenced sex, and adverse mental health outcomes such as depression and suicide attempts. This review highlights the need for further research to drive meaningful advancements in policy and practice related to food security among adolescent mothers in SSA.