UP to one in four African girls have their first child before the age of 18. Becoming a mother at such a young age can lead to mental health problems like depression. Research suggests that pregnant and parenting teenagers have poorer mental health than adult mothers. Authors ANTHONY IDOWU AJAYI, Associate research scientist, African Population and Health Research Center ELITA CHAMDIMBA, Research fellow, Centre for Social Research, University of Malawi Several factors make teenage mothers vulnerable to mental illness. For example, in conservative societies pregnant, unmarried adolescent girls are shamed and excluded. Parenting is stressful. Early and unintended pregnancy can…