**ABSTRACT**
**Background**:
Adolescent pregnancy and childbearing remain high in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) despite drastic reductions in global rates. Within sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), significant variations exist, with Burkina Faso (132 births per 1,000 girls) and Malawi (136 births per 1000 girls) among countries with the highest rates of adolescent fertility. Adolescent childbearing has severe lifelong consequences for the health and socioeconomic wellbeing of girls and their offspring. However, there is limited interrogation of the lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescents (PPAs), with the bulk of existing studies limited to small qualitative surveys. Robust cross-country evidence is critical to inform policy and programmatic interventions (e.g., school enrolment, re-entry, and support for girls returning postpartum) to alleviate the challenges that these adolescents face. We propose a cross-national survey—in Malawi and Burkina Faso—to document the lived experiences of PPAs and the impact of pregnancy and childbearing on them, as well as policies and interventions to cushion the adversity.
**Study design**:
We will conduct a mixed-methods cross-sectional study comprising a quantitative survey of 1000 PPAs, 40 in-depth interviews with PPAs and their caregivers, and 40 key informant interviews with teachers, policymakers, and health providers in each country. Data will be collected and analyzed over a period of 12 months.
**Dissemination**:
We aim to maximize the translation of the evidence into policy and action. We will produce a package of dissemination materials, including policy briefs, blogs, and presentations that are suitable for diverse groups of end-users and strategically share these in a variety of forums. We will work directly with the relevant government ministries and departments from the planning to implementation and dissemination phases of this study to engender ownership and uptake of the resulting evidence. The results of this study will be useful for policy formulation, refinement, and implementation, and interventions aimed at supporting PPAs to engage fully and benefit from all societal opportunities. We will also publish results in peer-reviewed journals and write online blogs to facilitate utilization beyond the scientific community.
