Fostering the inclusion of teen fathers in adolescent health interventions: a call for structured and gender-inclusive programming

Adolescent pregnancy remains a major global public health challenge, with significant consequences for health, education, and socioeconomic outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. While existing interventions have rightly prioritized adolescent mothers due to their biological and social vulnerabilities, this focus has inadvertently led to the systematic exclusion of teen fathers from adolescent health programming. Emerging evidence highlights that adolescent fathers play a critical role in maternal well-being, child development, and their own psychosocial outcomes. However, structural, cultural, and institutional barriers continue to limit their engagement. This commentary argues that adolescent parenthood is inherently relational and that excluding teen fathers undermines the effectiveness of current interventions. It calls for structured, gender-inclusive approaches that integrate teen fathers into adolescent health systems, promote shared responsibility, and strengthen outcomes for young families.