The thought that i could continue with school got lost: a qualitative exploration of the impact of COVID-19 on the education and sexual and reproductive health of Malawi youth.

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns altered social interactions and the health and education context of Malawian youth. It is important to understand the repercussions of the pandemic on the wellbeing of youth so that policymakers can better mitigate negative outcomes and address future pandemic needs.

Methods: This study used qualitative data from an evaluation of the "Secondary Education Expansion for Development" project to assess how COVID-19 impacted the education and sexual and reproductive health outcomes of youth in Malawi. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted in rural and urban areas with primary and secondary school students, their caregivers and teachers, and community leaders, providing insights on how the pandemic impacted them.

Results: Both male and female students lost motivation to continue their learning during the COVID-19 related school closures and teacher strikes. Participants reported that some female students became pregnant, married early, and sometimes engaged in sex work to make ends meet. There were also reports of increased financial barriers to sending children to school when they reopened, and there were reports of lower grades and poorer quality of teaching post-school closures.

Conclusions: The findings highlight the need for community- and policy-level strategies to mitigate interruptions to students' schooling and protect them from outcomes like pregnancy and early marriage that could further hinder their education.