We are excited to announce a collaboration between UKZN, the provincial government, the Provincial Council on AIDS, and other stakeholders and partners to host the “Early and Unintended Pregnancies in Eastern and Southern Africa Conference”, with a dedicated focus on early pregnancies. This conference is a vital initiative aimed at tackling the critical issue of early pregnancies in our region and continent, which is closely linked to the alarming rates of HIV among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW).

This hybrid event marks the inaugural installment of our initiative to address the Triple Threat affecting young people, concentrating specifically on early pregnancies. The discussions and strategies developed during this conference will play a significant role in enhancing the KZN Multisectoral Strategy to Mitigate Child and Teenage Pregnancies (2024-2029) and bridging the gap between research and AYP interventions, among other objectives. The conference is scheduled for 28–29 November 2024, in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. All accepted abstracts will be published as conference proceedings, and in other scholarly formats.

The discussions will be structured around the following themes:

• Understanding the Drivers of Early Unintended Pregnancies (EUP)
• Cross-Sectoral Approaches to Address EUP
• Age of Consent and Lack of Policy Harmonization Influencing EUP
• Cultural and Religious Influences Shaping Attitudes Toward Early Pregnancy and Reproductive Health
• Adolescent-Friendly Health Services Meeting the Needs of Adolescent Girls in Addressing Early and Unintended Pregnancy
• Local and International Good Practices at Institutional and Community Levels in Addressing EUP
• Funding Initiatives and Tracking Indicators for Reducing EUP

In addition to these themes, we encourage discussions around the following key conference questions:

• What are the existing gaps in the evidence regarding the drivers of reducing EUP in the region?
• How can we improve policy dialogue to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach to addressing EUP and promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)?
• What opportunities are available to enhance collaboration and strengthen synergies among academic institutions, development and implementation partners, and civil society in promoting effective practices for reducing rates of EUP?

This event will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders from government, implementing partners, funding agencies, civil society, academia, and the private sector in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA). Together, we will explore the complex issues surrounding early pregnancies and share innovative strategies for addressing these challenges, with a strong emphasis on cross-sectoral collaboration and regional knowledge sharing. We invite you to submit abstracts for this important conference. The call for abstracts is now open, with a submission deadline of 27 October 2024. For more details, including the concept note and themes for abstracts, please visit the link below. We encourage your participation in this crucial dialogue and look forward to your valuable contributions.

Scientific Committee Chair

Prof. Ernest Khalema, PhD
Dean & Head of School
Built Environment & Development Studies
University of KwaZulu-Natal