Droughts in Africa mean more unintended pregnancies, not fewer

Droughts in Sub-Saharan Africa increase unintended pregnancies by 3 to 6 percent. Children born from these pregnancies receive less medical care and are more likely to get sick.

Everyone assumed that when resources get scarce, birth rates would fall. This paper shows the opposite happens during droughts. It means climate adaptation plans must now include reproductive health support, not just food and water.