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The global food system's reliance on a few species threatens food and nutritional security. Species diversification, including indigenous species, is a viable option to address this issue. Diversity enhances food systems' resilience against climatic and economic shocks. It offers resources for improved breeds and allows farmers to mitigate risks. However, successful diversification demands collaboration among farmers, researchers, academics, professionals, retailers, consumers, and policymakers. This review analyzes the role of crop species diversity in food system transformation, focusing on monoculture vulnerabilities, diversification benefits, indigenous species' role in nutrition and food security, and the importance of integrated policies and multi‐stakeholder collaborations. We advocate for interdisciplinary research, participatory approaches, and supportive policies to foster diverse, resilient food systems that ensure food security, biodiversity conservation, and enhanced social well‐being amidst global challenges. While acknowledging the importance of diversity in animal species for food security, the focus of this review is on crop species diversity and its potential to transform food systems.

Teenage pregnancy and motherhood are often constructed in contemporary, policy and academic discourses as social problems, resulting in poor health and socio-economic outcomes for mother and child. However, in the last decade, a considerable body of international research has not only begun to challenge these constructions; but to suggest that the constructions themselves may contribute towards negative consequences for the socio-economic and psychological wellbeing of unmarried teenage mothers. In Nigeria, negative perceptions towards unmarried teenage mothers persist and the potential consequences of these remain understudied. Adopting a social constructionist framework, this thesis analyses the social disadvantages associated with the negative social representations of teenage pregnancy and motherhood in South-Western Nigeria. Using semi-structured interviews and photo-elicitation methods, this thesis explored the experiences of 24 young women who became first-time unmarried mothers between the ages of 15-19 years. Their experiences were also critically triangulated with findings from semi-structured interviews with 10 key community informants. Findings from the study suggest that gender norms define female sexuality, constrain their agencies, and influence their access to reproductive health services, predisposing them to early pregnancy and motherhood. Many of the study participants experienced single motherhood, educational disruption, and limited employment opportunities which compromised their wellbeing and earning capacities, due to the systematic stigmatization and discrimination within institutions (i.e. family, religious, legal, educational, and health institutions). This thesis also discusses how young mothers managed their negative representations within society, and in some instances, reconstructed positive identities for themselves. The thesis ends by suggesting potential social changes that can improve the life outcomes of pregnant teenagers and tee

Continued pregnancy after an abortion attempt is a likely outcome in countries where unsafe abortions prevail. Yet there is a paucity of literature on the consequences and implications of failed abortions. This study explored young women’s abortion decision-making, their experiences of failed abortion and its consequences in South-Western Nigeria. It presents findings from semi-structured interviews conducted with 14 women who had become unintentionally pregnant as unmarried teenagers, desired abortions, yet became mothers. Whilst the fear of the stigma associated with young unmarried motherhood gave rise to participants’ desire for abortion, restrictive abortion laws influenced their experiences and abortion decision-making. Participants who attempted an abortion failed and were forced to carry their unwanted pregnancies to term. They then experienced continued discrimination, forced motherhood, and a rejection of maternalism. Their experiences are analysed as responses to the complex interplay between social norms, abortion restrictions, stigma and forced motherhood. The paper makes a case for improving women’s reproductive autonomy in decision-making, - highlighting the social and mental health consequences of restricted access to abortion, and reinforce the importance of taking a holistic approach to addressing the sexual health of young women, by focusing not only on physical health but also on ensuring wellbeing.

Young mothers often encounter stigma and discrimination, affecting their lives and that of their children. This paper explores stigma management strategies and their effectiveness for young mothers in rural Nigeria. Ten key informants and 24 young mothers were recruited from Ife-East in South-Western Nigeria. Data from semi-structured interviews showed that societal disapproval of pregnant teenagers and young mothers were common experiences. Women used a range of strategies to actively cope with stigma including: belief in predestination, avoidance, concealment, and cohabitation. These strategies could be seen as tools to mitigate negative stereotypes and discrimination. However, they also had the unintended consequences of compounding many young women’s difficult circumstances and exposing them to adverse outcomes, including gender-based violence, repeat pregnancies, poor mental health, and low uptake of services. The results show the need for policy frameworks to actively combat stigma by addressing the negative framing of early pregnancy and motherhood and promoting supportive environments for young mothers. Health professionals need to be trained to offer de-stigmatising services to encourage young mothers to seek help and reduce pre-existing inequities in access to services, and policies need to include measures that address the rights of young mothers and protect them from violence and abuse.

Medication abortion has been established globally as safe and effective. This modality has increased accessibility and the opportunity to centre individual autonomy at the heart of abortion care, by facilitating self-managed abortion. Previous research has shown how self-managed abortion is beneficial in myriad settings ranging from problematic to (relatively) unproblematic contexts of access. In this paper we explore the relationship between self-management and sources of support (including health professionals, family, and friends); as well as considering issues of reproductive control and autonomy. Drawing on qualitative, experience-centred interviews, we utilise the concept of social connectedness to examine how supported self-managed abortion was experienced in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, self-management was welcomed, with participants speaking positively about managing their own abortion at home. However, a sense of connectedness was crucial in helping participants deal with difficult experiences; and functioned to support individual autonomy in self-care. This paper is the first to examine factors of connection, support, and isolation, as experienced by those undergoing self-managed abortion in the UK in detail. Our research suggests a continued need to advocate for high quality support for self-managed abortion, as well as for choice of abortion method, to support patient-centered care.

Teenage pregnancy and motherhood are often constructed in contemporary, policy and academic discourses as social problems, resulting in poor health and socio-economic outcomes for mother and child. However, in the last decade, a considerable body of international research has not only begun to challenge these constructions; but to suggest that the constructions themselves may contribute towards negative consequences for the socio-economic and psychological wellbeing of unmarried teenage mothers. In Nigeria, negative perceptions towards unmarried teenage mothers persist and the potential consequences of these remain understudied. Adopting a social constructionist framework, this thesis analyses the social disadvantages associated with the negative social representations of teenage pregnancy and motherhood in South-Western Nigeria. Using semi-structured interviews and photo-elicitation methods, this thesis explored the experiences of 24 young women who became first-time unmarried mothers between the ages of 15-19 years. Their experiences were also critically triangulated with findings from semi-structured interviews with 10 key community informants. Findings from the study suggest that gender norms define female sexuality, constrain their agencies, and influence their access to reproductive health services, predisposing them to early pregnancy and motherhood. Many of the study participants experienced single motherhood, educational disruption, and limited employment opportunities which compromised their wellbeing and earning capacities, due to the systematic stigmatization and discrimination within institutions (i.e. family, religious, legal, educational, and health institutions). This thesis also discusses how young mothers managed their negative representations within society, and in some instances, reconstructed positive identities for themselves. The thesis ends by suggesting potential social changes that can improve the life outcomes of pregnant teenagers and tee

Continued pregnancy after an abortion attempt is a likely outcome in countries where unsafe abortions prevail. Yet there is a paucity of literature on the consequences and implications of failed abortions. This study explored young women’s abortion decision-making, their experiences of failed abortion and its consequences in South-Western Nigeria. It presents findings from semi-structured interviews conducted with 14 women who had become unintentionally pregnant as unmarried teenagers, desired abortions, yet became mothers. Whilst the fear of the stigma associated with young unmarried motherhood gave rise to participants’ desire for abortion, restrictive abortion laws influenced their experiences and abortion decision-making. Participants who attempted an abortion failed and were forced to carry their unwanted pregnancies to term. They then experienced continued discrimination, forced motherhood, and a rejection of maternalism. Their experiences are analysed as responses to the complex interplay between social norms, abortion restrictions, stigma and forced motherhood. The paper makes a case for improving women’s reproductive autonomy in decision-making, - highlighting the social and mental health consequences of restricted access to abortion, and reinforce the importance of taking a holistic approach to addressing the sexual health of young women, by focusing not only on physical health but also on ensuring wellbeing.

Social norms around the timing of motherhood mean that young mothers are often viewed as different and negatively stereotyped. Drawing on data from South-Western Nigeria, this paper explores unmarried young women’s identity (re)construction in the context of the negative societal representations of young motherhood. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 young mothers, using photo-elicitation as a complementary method. The results revealed that despite facing social stigma, some young mothers were able to challenge negative societal stereotypes, reframe the challenges they faced as mothers and construct positive maternal identities for themselves. Our findings offer insights into the complex interplay between stigma and identity formation and provide recommendations for sustainable interventions and social support to empower young mothers in Nigeria.