Factors Associated with Teen Pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa: A Multi-Country Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the contextual factors associated with teenage pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa. Using DHS data we modelled females aged 15-19 with multilevel logistic regression to establish the independent influence of social disadvantage on teenage pregnancy in West, East and Southern Africa with aid of the MLwiN programme. Results showed teenage pregnancy decreased in East Africa, plateaued in West Africa and increased slightly in Southern Africa between 1992 and 2011. Multilevel multivariate regression revealed teenage pregnancy was associated with family disruption (0.39; 0.40: P<0.05), community-levels of female unemployment (1.01; 0.99: P<0.05) and community poverty (1.01; 1.02: P<0.05) in Southern and East Africa, while only community poverty (1.01; P<0.05) independently predicted the outcome in West Africa. Our findings emphasise the necessity of creating regional-specific interventions and prevention campaigns to address multilevel factors such as family disruption as well as the need for governments to address issues of unemployment, poverty and inequality. (Afr J Reprod Health 2016 (Special Edition);20[3]: 94-107).Keywords: Teenage pregnancy, sub-Saharan Africa, multilevel modelling, family disruption, poverty, unemployment RésuméCette étude visait à évaluer les facteurs contextuels associés à la grossesse chez les adolescentes en Afrique sub-saharienne. En nous servons des données EDS, nous avons modélisé les femmes âgées de 15-19 ans avec la régression logistique multiniveaux pour établir l'influence indépendante de désavantage social sur la grossesse chez les adolescentes de l'Afrique : de l'Ouest, de l'Est et de l'Afrique du Sud à l'aide du programme MLwiN. Les résultats ont montré que la grossesse chez les adolescentes a diminué en Afrique Orientale, a atteint un palier en Afrique Occidentale et a légèrement augmenté en Afrique du Sud entre 1992 et 2011. La régression multivariée à plusieurs niveaux a révélé que la grossesse chez les adolescentes a été associé à une perturbation de la famille (0,39; 0,40: P <0,05), les niveaux communautaires du chômage au féminin (1,01; 0,99: P <0,05) et la pauvreté de la communauté (1.01; 1.02: P <0,05) en Afrique australe et orientale, tandis que la pauvreté communautaire (1,01; P <0,05) a prédit indépendamment le résultat en Afrique de l'Ouest. Nos résultats soulignent la nécessité de créer des interventions spécifiques régionales et des campagnes de prévention pour traiter les facteurs à plusieurs niveaux tels que la perturbation de la famille, ainsi que la nécessité pour les gouvernements de résoudre les problèmes du chômage, de la pauvreté et de l'inégalité. (Afr J Reprod Health 2016 (Edition Spéciale); 20[3]: 94-107).

Risk Factors for Pregnancies Among Females Age 15 to 19 in Rwanda: A Secondary Data Analysis of the 2014/2015 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS)

“…This analysis found that teenage women with secondary education were less likely to have pregnancy. This result is similar to other studies in some other African countries (Ayele, 2013;Odimegwu & Mkwananzi, 2016;Rosenberg et al, 2015). Although many studies have found such an association, a causal relationship cannot be definitively established.…”

“…Existing evidence suggests a long list of possible risk factors contributing to teenage pregnancies, including low education level, lack of negotiation skills, insufficient parental supervision, not using contraceptive methods, age at marriage, religion, residing in rural versus urban areas, peer pressure, and lower economic status (Ajala, 2014;Christofides et al, 2014;Kanku & Marsh, 2014;Moni, Nair, & Devi, 2013;Neal, Chandra-Mouli, & Chou, 2015;Okigbo & Speizer, 2015;Rutaremwa, 2013). In addition, teenagers living in households headed by single females or in families with poor family relationships are at higher risk of getting pregnant (Odimegwu & Mkwananzi, 2016).…”

‘Ring’ your future, without changing diaper – Can preventing teenage pregnancy address child marriage in Zambia?

“…Besides economic factors (directly) leading to child marriage, we found that economic hardship had an effect on young people’s sexual behaviour, leading to teenage pregnancy and later on, marriage. A study using Demographic and Health Survey data in sub-Saharan Africa confirms that community poverty is associated with teenage pregnancy [ 24 ]. Transactional sex was found to take place frequently.…”

Comparing Weighted Markov Chain and Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average in the Prediction of Under-5 Mortality Annual Closing Rates in Nigeria

“…Childhood mortality reflects Social Economic Status (SES) and Quality of Life (QoL). In developing countries, mortality rates are not only affected by social, economic, demographic, and health variables, but also vary across regions and districts (Odimegwu & Mkwananzi, 2016). Globally, nearly 7 million children die each year before they reach their fifth birthday.…”