The Shadow Pandemic of Adultified Adolescent Mothers in Uganda

In Uganda, COVID-19 fueled a surge in teenage pregnancies and motherhood, a phenomenon widely described as the shadow pandemic. Prolonged school closures (2020 to 2021) intensified gender-based adultification—the premature burdening of girls with adult responsibilities. Deep-seated cultural perceptions of adolescent girls as mature women heightened their risk of exploitation, early pregnancy, and forced motherhood. Drawing on a Feminist Participatory Action Research project that engaged adolescent mothers to understand the support they need to rebuild their lives after the pandemic, we examine how adultification shaped their pathways to pregnancy and motherhood, consequently reinforcing cycles of gendered oppression and systemic neglect. By centering Ugandan girls’ experiences, we expand on the adultification discourse, stressing the need for institutional reforms and community support to protect their childhood.