IntroductionAdolescent pregnancy is a significant cost to mother, newborn, and their family and society. Despite the enormous health and social impact of adolescent pregnancy, there is a dearth of nationally representative studies on factors associated with adolescent pregnancies in Nepal. Therefore, this study aimed to examine trends and factors associated with adolescent pregnancies in Nepal, using pooled data of three nationally representative demographic surveys.MethodsData for this study was derived from the recent three consecutive (2006, 2011 and 2016) Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS). A total of 7,788 adolescent women aged 15–19 years included in the analysis. Trends and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the factors associated with adolescent pregnancy.ResultsOver the study period (2006–2016), the rate of adolescent pregnancy was 173 [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 159, 188] per 1000 women aged 15–19 years. Adolescent pregnancy was significantly higher among woman with middle household wealth index [adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) 2.19, 95% confidence interval CI 1.65, 2.91] or poor household wealth index (aOR 2.37, 95% CI 1.76, 3.21). Similarly, Dalit (aOR 1.87, 95% CI 1.50, 2.34) or Madhesi (aOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.32, 2.11); and unemployed (aOR 1.28, 95% CI 1.09, 1.50) women had higher odds of adolescent pregnancies. In contrast, adolescent pregnancy was significantly lower among educated women (aOR 0.60, 95% CI 0.48, 0.74), and women with access to media exposure to public health issues (aOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.64, 0.88).ConclusionsAccess to the media exposure on public health issues can be the effective efforts to reduce adolescent pregnancy. Women who have low maternal education, low wealth index, unemployed, and ethnic groups such as Dalits, and Madeshi needs to be targeted while designing and implementing policies and programs.

BackgroundUnsafe abortion contributes to maternal morbidities, mortalities as well as social and financial costs to women, families, and the health system. This study aimed to examine the factors associated with unsafe abortion practices in Nepal.MethodsData were derived from the 2011 and 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS). A total of 911 women aged 15–49 years who aborted five years prior to surveys were included in the analysis. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to determine factors associated with unsafe abortion.ResultsUnsafe abortion rate was seven per 1000 women aged 15–49 years. This research found that women living in the Mountains (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) 2.36; 95% CI 1.21, 4.60), or those who were urban residents (aOR 2.11; 95% CI 1.37, 3.24) were more likely to have unsafe abortion. The odds of unsafe abortion were higher amongst women of poor households (aOR 2.16; 95% CI 1.18, 3.94); Dalit women (aOR 1.89; 95% CI 1.02, 3.52), husband with no education background (aOR 2.12; 95%CI 1.06, 4.22), or women who reported agriculture occupation (aOR 1.82; 95% CI 1.16, 2.86) compared to their reference’s group. Regardless of knowledge on legal conditions of abortion, the probability of having unsafe abortion was significantly higher (aOR 5.13; 95% CI 2.64, 9.98) amongst women who did not know the location of safe abortion sites. Finally, women who wanted to delay or space childbirth (aOR 2.71; 95% CI 1.39, 5.28) or those who reported unwanted birth (aOR = 2.33; 95% CI 1.19, 4.56) were at higher risk of unsafe abortion.ConclusionGoing forward, increasing the availability of safe abortion facilities and strengthening family planning services can help reduce unsafe abortion in Nepal. These programmatic efforts should be targeted to women of poor households, disadvantaged ethnicities, and those who reside in mountainous region.

Background Despite having the high rate of stillbirth in most of the countries of South Asia, there is a lack of synthesized evidence based on factors associated with stillbirth. This study systematically synthesizes the evidence on factors associated with stillbirth in the four selected countries of South Asia. Methods This review was conducted using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies that examined factors associated with stillbirth in South Asia were searched using five major electronic search databases including MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus, published between January 2000 and December 2019. In the meta-analysis, significant heterogeneity was detected among studies (I 2 >50%), and hence a random effect model was used. Results A total of 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled rate of stillbirth from the studies in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan was 25.15 per 1000 births. Pregnancy complications, maternal health conditions, fetal complications, lack of antenatal care, and lower Socio Economic Status (SES) were the most common factors associated with stillbirth in countries of South Asia. Conclusion This study confirmed that stillbirth in selected countries of South Asia remains high. To reduce stillbirth, a greater focus needs to be on timely management of preterm labor, maternal hypertension, and provision of financial support for quality antenatal and delivery care. The interventions should be targeted for women living in remote areas, who are less educated and those with low SES.

Adolescent pregnancy is a major health and social concern in South Asia. The aim of this study is to systematically review evidence on the factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in South Asia. This study was conducted using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Four electronic databases: EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus were searched for relevant studies on factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in South Asia published in English between January 2000 and July 2022. The quality of the included studies was assessed using 12 criteria from The National Institute of Health (NIH) Study Quality Assessment Tools for observational studies. Of the 166 articles retrieved, only 15 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis. Consistent factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in South Asia were low maternal education, low socioeconomic status, rural residency, and ethnic minorities. To prevent adolescent pregnancy in South Asia, concerted effort towards promoting health equity by addressing the predisposing factors associated with adolescent pregnancy is essential. This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO [CRD42022340344].

Background. Intimate partner violence (IPV) adversely affects female reproductive health in different ways. However, the relationship between IPV and abortion has not been adequately examined in Nepal. This study is aimed at examining the association between IPV and abortion in Nepal. Methods. Data for this study was derived from the Nepal Demographic Health Surveys (NDHS) of 2011 and 2016. A total of 8641 women aged 15-49 years were selected for the violence module in NDHS 2011 and 2016. The analysis was restricted to 2978 women who reported at least one pregnancy five years preceding each survey. Among them, 839 women who experienced different forms of violence were included in the analysis. Various forms of IPV were taken as exposure variables while abortion as an outcome of interest. The study employed logistic regression analysis to examine the association between IPV and abortion. Results. Nearly one in three (28.2%) women experienced any forms of IPV. A total of 22.2% women experienced physical violence. Almost one in five (19.5%) women were slapped. More than half (52.8%) of the women with no education experienced IPV. The logistic regression analyses showed a significant association between IPV and abortion. Women with severe physical violence had nearly two-fold higher odds (adjusted Odds Ratio aOR=1.68; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.64) of having abortion. Similarly, women who reported physical violence were more likely to have abortion (aOR=1.54; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.19) compared to those who did not experience such violence. Conclusion. Intimate partner violence is associated with abortion in Nepal. It is imperative that effective implementation of IPV-preventive measures through the promotion of appropriate social and policy actions can help reduce abortion in Nepal.

Adolescent pregnancy has important health and social implications. Despite the availability of nationally representative household survey data, there are limited studies that analyze factors associated with adolescent pregnancy across countries of South Asia. This study aimed to identify factors associated with adolescent pregnancy across South Asia. This study used the most recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from six countries in South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, and Pakistan. Pooled individual record data from 20,828 ever-married women aged 15–19 years were used for the analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis, informed by the World Health Organization framework on social determinants of health, was performed to examine factors associated with adolescent pregnancy. Adolescent pregnancy was highest in Afghanistan compared to Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, India, and the Maldives. Multivariable analyses confirmed that being from a poor household or male-headed household, increasing maternal age, having no access to newspapers, and having no knowledge of family planning were significantly associated with adolescent pregnancy. The use or intention to use contraceptives was protective against adolescent pregnancy. To reduce adolescent pregnancy in South Asia, interventions targeting adolescents from poor households with limited access to mass media should be considered, especially those from households with an existing patriarchal structure.