At-least 7,274 teenage girls in Mangochi have become pregnant  from January to June this year.

The figure is higher by 1,039 girls when compared with those who became pregnant in similar period last year.

Youth Friendly Health Services Coordinator for Mangochi Peter Malipa says 166 of the girls are aged between 10 to 14 years.

Weeks ago, youth-oriented organization  in Phalombe released a gender-based violence report which indicated that the district has registered a total of 5,447 teenage pregnancies from January to May 2020.

Experts this have attributed this incident to closure of schools due to Covid-19 as many girls have indulged them selves into sexual practices due to lack of something to do.

Currently, it is not known to the schools will be re-opened as Covid-19 cases in Malawi are still on the rise.