Preparing for Parenthood

Pakistan

Syed Usman Hamdani from the Human Development Research Foundation in Pakistan will develop a program that teaches life skills such as self-awareness, communication, and parenting skills, to adolescent newlyweds in poor areas of Pakistan to help them cope with the challenges of marriage, pregnancy, and bringing up children. The program builds on an existing WHO intervention, the Thinking Healthy Program, and will incorporate selected life skills into it. It will be evaluated through a randomized controlled trial with 60 married women under 19 years old.

Last update: October 05, 2023

Overview Contributors

Challenge

Pakistan has one of the highest adolescent birth rates in the world, with 10% of girls giving birth before the age of 18. Many of these girls go to live with their new in-laws, but they lack the skills needed to handle these major events, leaving them more susceptible to mental health issues such as depression.

Description

The program will incorporate selected life skills, in consultation with young women and other community members, into the Thinking Healthy Program and evaluate its feasibility and impact on mental health.

SDGs