Teenage Pregnancy Among Low-Income Adolescents in Peru

Morales Lopez L.H. · Journal of Human Rights and Social Work (2026) · DOI: 10.1007/s41134-026-00457-4

Resumen

In this qualitative study employing thematic analysis, we interviewed 64 women from low-income backgrounds from three regions of Peru: Chimbote (coast), Juliaca (Andean), and Pucallpa (Amazon). Data were collected using in-depth interviews and focus groups. The results show that a large number of adolescent women living in poverty reported becoming pregnant because they viewed it as an escape from their suffering, including conflicts, family disintegration, unmet material needs, and an uncertain future. The findings highlight that adolescent pregnancy, poverty, and psychological processes are intertwined in a complex dynamic that needs to be understood in order to establish more effective interventions for addressing adolescent pregnancy in Peru. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

Instituciones: Universidad Católica Los Ángeles de Chimbote