Background: Teenage pregnancies disproportionately affect developing countries more than developed countries. This study aimed to explore the social-cultural dynamics and experiences of teenage school-going mothers in a rural district of the Eastern Province of Zambia to understand the lived experiences of teenage mothers in-depth. Methods: This was a phenomenological study done in two schools in one of the provinces with the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Zambia. Data were analysed thematically in a deductive approach using a framework from a recent systematic review done in studies on teenage pregnancies from sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 26 school-going adolescents and young mothers were interviewed. Results: The majority came from poor households in rural areas and lacked knowledge and access to sex education and contraceptive services before falling pregnant. Cultural beliefs and traditional practices fuel misconceptions about contraceptives and condom use and create a narrative/expectation among the girls of wanting to experience sex. They experienced rejection and stigma during pregnancy and were now experiencing hardships in fending for themselves and their babies. Contemporary programs were either non-existent or did not adequately address the economic and psychosocial challenges being faced by teenage mothers, highlighting the need for more responsive interventions. Conclusion: This study found that teenage and young mothers who re-entered school were more likely to be from poor and large families, first-borns and in day schools. Traditional beliefs and cultural practices influence. They experience discrimination, rejection, low self-esteem and economic hardships.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

No funding was available for this study

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Data is available upon request to the corresponding author