Prevalence of first adolescent pregnancy and its associated factors in sub-Saharan Africa: A multi-country analysis.

Ahinkorah, BO; Kang, M; Perry, L; Brooks, F; Hayen, A

Prevalence of first adolescent pregnancy and its associated factors in sub-Saharan Africa: A multi-country analysis.

Ahinkorah, BO Kang, M Perry, L

Brooks, F Hayen, A

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Publisher:: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: PLoS One, 2021, 16, (2), pp. e0246308
Issue Date:: 2021

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Ahinkorah, BO
dc.contributor.author	Kang, M
dc.contributor.author	Perry, L https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8507-1283
dc.contributor.author	Brooks, F
dc.contributor.author	Hayen, A
dc.date.accessioned	2021-02-11T12:14:10Z
dc.date.available	2021-01-15
dc.date.available	2021-02-11T12:14:10Z
dc.date.issued	2021
dc.identifier.citation	PLoS One, 2021, 16, (2), pp. e0246308
dc.identifier.issn	1932-6203
dc.identifier.issn	1932-6203
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/146033
dc.description.abstract	INTRODUCTION: In low-and middle-income countries, pregnancy-related complications are major causes of death for young women. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of first adolescent pregnancy and its associated factors in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: We undertook a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 32 sub-Saharan African countries between 2010 and 2018. We calculated the prevalence of first adolescent (aged 15 to 19 years) pregnancy in each country and examined associations between individual and contextual level factors and first adolescent pregnancy. RESULTS: Among all adolescents, Congo experienced the highest prevalence of first adolescent pregnancy (44.3%) and Rwanda the lowest (7.2%). However, among adolescents who had ever had sex, the prevalence ranged from 36.5% in Rwanda to 75.6% in Chad. The odds of first adolescent pregnancy was higher with increasing age, working, being married/cohabiting, having primary education only, early sexual initiation, knowledge of contraceptives, no unmet need for contraception and poorest wealth quintile. By contrast, adolescents who lived in rural areas and in the West African sub-region had lower odds of first adolescent pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of adolescent pregnancy in sub-Saharan African countries is high. Understanding the predictors of first adolescent pregnancy can facilitate the development of effective social policies such as family planning and comprehensive sex and relationship education in sub-Saharan Africa and can help ensure healthy lives and promotion of well-being for adolescents and their families and communities.
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Public Library of Science (PLoS)
dc.relation.ispartof	PLoS One
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1371/journal.pone.0246308
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	General Science & Technology
dc.title	Prevalence of first adolescent pregnancy and its associated factors in sub-Saharan Africa: A multi-country analysis.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	16
utslib.location.activity	United States
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2021-02-11T12:13:54Z
pubs.issue	2
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	16
utslib.citation.issue	2

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: In low-and middle-income countries, pregnancy-related complications are major causes of death for young women. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of first adolescent pregnancy and its associated factors in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: We undertook a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 32 sub-Saharan African countries between 2010 and 2018. We calculated the prevalence of first adolescent (aged 15 to 19 years) pregnancy in each country and examined associations between individual and contextual level factors and first adolescent pregnancy. RESULTS: Among all adolescents, Congo experienced the highest prevalence of first adolescent pregnancy (44.3%) and Rwanda the lowest (7.2%). However, among adolescents who had ever had sex, the prevalence ranged from 36.5% in Rwanda to 75.6% in Chad. The odds of first adolescent pregnancy was higher with increasing age, working, being married/cohabiting, having primary education only, early sexual initiation, knowledge of contraceptives, no unmet need for contraception and poorest wealth quintile. By contrast, adolescents who lived in rural areas and in the West African sub-region had lower odds of first adolescent pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of adolescent pregnancy in sub-Saharan African countries is high. Understanding the predictors of first adolescent pregnancy can facilitate the development of effective social policies such as family planning and comprehensive sex and relationship education in sub-Saharan Africa and can help ensure healthy lives and promotion of well-being for adolescents and their families and communities.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/146033