Other potential factors influencing exclusive

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the recommendations and future-work section of the source papers, classified as general, spanning 3 journals.

Supporting evidence — 3 representative gaps

• A Critical Review of Teenage Mothers’ Re-Entry to Schools in the Global South (2026) · East African Journal of Arts and Social Sciences · doi

  The school and home environments should be improved to facilitate the reintegration of pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers into educational institutions by establishing a support centre where girls can be counselled on issues such as sexuality, parenting, and academic performance. The establishment of breastfeeding centres within schools will not only encourage more teen mothers to return to school but will also assist them in raising strong and healthy children. The girls can also participate in the social service programme. Harsh social norms and values that dehumanise teenage mothers and their children must be banned. We recommend that parents prioritise the long-term social benefit of educating a girl over their negative perceptions. There is a pressing need for policy frameworks that actively engage adolescent fathers in parenting responsibilities. This critical review highlights a prevailing gender bias, wherein teen fathers are permitted to continue their education uninterrupted, while teen mothers are often stigmatised and viewed as failures. The limited involvement of fathers in child-rearing presents significant challenges to child development, particularly in the Global South. This critical review reveals that a significant proportion of teenage pregnancies are caused by adult males, underscoring the urgent need for policy reform and stricter legal measures against perpetrators. Existing pregnant policies adolescents and teenage mothers, often without addressing the root causes. It is essential to involve adolescents in policy development to ensure their perspectives are considered. Future research should explore the intersection between teenage pregnancy and statutory rape, including the identification of accountable parties. disproportionately impact CONCLUSION interventions may have We have drawn the following conclusions. First, there is a need for targeted intervention at the school, family, and community levels to educate young teens about sexuality in the global south. From an educational social injustice standpoint, such to begin by questioning and disrupting the social norms of those undervalued teenage mothers and a gender division of labour that assigns childcare and nurturing entirely to women, as well as getting them to school with the support of all stakeholders. If this is not done, teenage mothers will miss opportunities to improve their communities' livelihoods, exacerbating existing injustices. their own and Second, to achieve social justice in education, teachers, school leaders, families, and communities must develop a critical consciousness about oppression and dominant ways of knowing about diversity, particularly among teenage mothers. When teenage mothers are marginalised and have no one to defend them, they feel rejected and are more likely to make decisions that prevent them from pursuing certain economic opportunities. This 238 | This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. East African Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, Volume 9, Issue 2, 2026 Article DOI : https://doi.org/10.37284/eajass.9.2.4881 is likely to lead to an intergenerational impact that would be difficult to reverse. Third, partnerships between schools, families, and community structures may be required to create inclusive schools and communities that value teenage mothers. Fourth, our critical review demonstrates that teenage mothers' social realities are complex and contextual. It is critical to create spaces within social institutions for them to advance in their education. Finally, community-based outreach programs, particularly for teenage mothers with limited social support, are required to address the suggested gap in the global south between policy and practice regarding teenage reproductive health care and teenage mothers' support within schools and other institutions. While policies allow teen mothers to re-enter the school system, there is a hindrance in implementation from administrative bureaucracy and exclusion ideologies at both the school and community levels. This perpetuates social injustices against girls. Schools must be more transparent and educate teenage mothers on their rights, as outlined in the policies that govern them. Teenagers could be equipped with the skills necessary to educate and support one another in schools and communities.

  generalrecommendationsevidence 5/5
  Keywords: teenage mothers social school schools them support critical teen policy community communities institutions girls within
• Perceived Socio-cultural and Economic Determinants of School Reintegration among Adolescent Mothers in Post-COVID Uganda (2026) · East African Journal of Education Studies · doi

  Future studies should investigate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at addressing stigma and cultural perceptions of motherhood. Research should explore the impact of institutional support, such as childcare services and flexible schooling arrangements, on adolescent mothers' school reintegration. The study suggests the need for further research on the interplay between gender norms, economic realities, and educational policies.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 4/5
  Keywords: future studies investigate effectiveness interventions aimed addressing stigma
• Socio-demographic Determinants of Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Adolescent Mothers Attending Maternal and Child Health Clinics in Siaya and Bondo Referral Hospitals, Kenya (2026) · East African Journal of Health and Science · doi

  Future studies should examine other potential factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding practices among adolescent mothers. Future studies should investigate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving exclusive breastfeeding among adolescent mothers. Future studies should explore the role of cultural misconceptions and social stigma in influencing exclusive breastfeeding practices.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 4/5
  Keywords: future studies examine other potential factors influencing exclusive

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