Pregnancy Among Unmarried Adolescents and Young Adults

Moni, Sheela A.; Nair, M. K. C.; Devi, Rema

doi:10.1007/s13224-012-0244-7

Cited by 18 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…13 Teenage pregnancy can bring about major health and social problems with unique medical and psychosocial consequences for the adolescent and society at large. 14 For instance, it prevents teenagers from achieving their full potential and enjoying their basic human rights. 15 The effect of teenage pregnancy also adversely affects future earning potential and leads to lifelong poverty.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Teenage Pregnancy and Its Associated Factors in Eastern Ethiopia: A Community-Based Study

Mezmur

Assefa

Alemayehu

2021

IJWH

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Background Teenage pregnancy is a global issue raising concerns for all who are interested in the health and well-being of young women and their children. It carries major health and social issues with unique medical and psychosocial consequences for both adolescents and society in general. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence and factors associated with teenage pregnancy in eastern Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Multi-stage simple random sampling procedure was used to select 2258 female teenagers. Interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were entered into EpiData and analyzed using stata software. The Poisson regression model with robust variance estimation was used to examine the association of the independent variable with teenage pregnancy. An adjusted prevalence ratio (APR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was reported. Results The prevalence of teenage pregnancy was 30.2% (95% CI: 28.3, 32.1). Age 16–17 years old (APR=7.05; 95% CI: 4.15,11.96), 17–18 years old (APR=9.85; 95% CI: 5.72,16.98), not being in school (APR=2.83; 95% CI: 1.93,4.16), lack of formal education (APR=1.11; 95% CI: 1.03,1.19), being married (APR=3.59; 95% CI: 2.83,4.56), parental divorce (APR=1.24; 95% CI: 1.08,1.42), having elder sister who had a history of teenage pregnancy (APR=1.11; 95% CI: 1.02,1.21), and not knowing fertile period in menstrual cycle (APR=1.31; 95% CI: 1.16,1.47) were independently associated with teenage pregnancy. Conclusion One in three teenagers had been pregnant. Age, not being in school, lack of formal education, being married, parental divorce, having an elder sister who had a history of teenage pregnancy, and not knowing fertile period during the menstrual cycles were the factors associated with teenage pregnancy. In Ethiopia, further efforts are required in the prevention of teenage pregnancy, keeping girls in school and strengthening the policy of delaying child marriage, particularly in rural areas.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Teenage Pregnancy and Its Associated Factors in Eastern Ethiopia: A Community-Based Study

Mezmur

Assefa

Alemayehu

2021

IJWH

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“…Other studies have shown family connectedness to be protective against early sexual debut and involvement in high-risk sexual behaviour, 14 that family relationships affect the incidence of unplanned adolescent pregnancies 23 as well as condom use among young adults. 15 We have seen that the family microsystem, consisting of parents and siblings, can influence behaviour.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Family Connectedness and Its Association With Sexual Risk-Taking Among Undergraduate Students at the University of Nairobi

Wachira

Mathai

Kathuku

2019

EAHRJ

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Background: Universities have a student population in the age range of 17 to 25 years, 75 % of whom are sexually active, with the median age of sexual debut at age 18 years. About half of all students are involved in risky sexual behaviour. Many interventions have decreased sexual risk behaviour in the short-term, but there is need for multilevel prevention, including targeting improvements in family relationships for sustained change. Perceived positive family connectedness has been found to be related to reduced sexual risk-taking among adolescents and young adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated the family connectedness and sexual behaviour of students aged 18 to 24 years at the University of Nairobi. There were 904 participants, both male and female, who were registered students of the University of Nairobi. After institutional and individual consent were granted, participants completed a self-administered questionnaire within their classes. The family subscale of the Hemingway Measure of Adolescent Connectedness was used to evaluate connectedness, and a sexual behaviour questionnaire was used to evaluate sexual risk-taking behaviour. Results: Six hundred forty (70.8%) of the respondents were sexually active -372 males and 268 females. High-risk sex was reported by 203 male respondents (54.6%) and 117 females (43.7%). Reportedly abstinent participants had higher family connectedness scores than those who were sexually active (P<.001), and participants who reported less sexual risk-taking had higher mean family connectedness scores than those with higher sexual risk-taking (P<.001). Conclusion:Family connectedness had a significant influence on sexual risk-taking, and investment in family relationships could reduce risky sexual behaviour and potentially other risky behaviours among young adult university students.

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“…Adolescents are the most important target group in reproductive health programs [2] Additionally, more than other age groups, adolescents are more susceptible to substance abuse, smoking, alcohol, and engaging in risky behaviors, including unsafe sexual relationships [3]. These factors make adolescents vulnerable to numerous problems including infections, sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV and hepatitis [4], pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, ectopic pregnancy [5,6], unwanted pregnancies, illegal and unsafe abortion [7], unsafe deliveries, maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality as well as unsafe motherhood [8]. These events affect not only the individual but also the family and society.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comprehensive reproductive health program for vulnerable adolescent girls

et al. 2020

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Background: Reproductive health of vulnerable adolescent girls is a top priority in global programs. Alcohol consumption, drug abuse, high risk sexual behaviors, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual assault, escape from home, unrestrained sex in the family, history of robbery, imprisonment and living in drug hangouts expose adolescents to different sorts of damage and injury. These adolescent girls are at risk of AIDS and other STDs, unwanted pregnancies, illegal and unsafe abortions, unplanned pregnancy and childbirth, and unsafe motherhood. Therefore, assessing these girls' reproductive health needs and designing programs to improve their sexual and reproductive health seem to be essential. This study will be conducted to design a comprehensive program for improving the reproductive health of vulnerable adolescent girls. Methods: The present study is an exploratory sequential mixed methods study (Qual-Quan) designed in three phases. In the first phase, a qualitative study will be used to describe the reproductive health needs of vulnerable adolescent girls, identify facilitating and inhibiting factors, and explain the strategies of reproductive health programs for these girls. Participants will be selected in this phase using purposive sampling method, and the data will be collected through semi-structured interviews. The obtained data will be analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis. In the second phase, through a quantitative study, the strategies obtained from the qualitative study and review of the literature will be provided to reproductive health care providers, experts, policymakers, and planners to prioritize and select the best strategies. In the third phase, the initial draft of the program will be formulated based on prioritized strategies and will be proposed in a panel comprised of specialists in the areas of reproductive and sexual health, health promotion, social injuries and a psychiatrist. Finally, the final program will be developed and presented after obtaining the agreement and approval of the panel members. Discussion: Designing a program based on a qualitative study, review of the existing evidence and programs, and using the opinions of experts in different areas can lead to different aspects of reproductive and sexual health of vulnerable adolescent girls. On the other hand, taking into account all cultural sensitivities and taboos as well as political, economic and social barriers, the development of such a program can provide the appropriate possibility of presenting comprehensive reproductive and sexual health services to vulnerable adolescent girls and achieve the goals agreed universally.

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Pregnancy Among Unmarried Adolescents and Young Adults

Cited by 18 publications

References 13 publications

Teenage Pregnancy and Its Associated Factors in Eastern Ethiopia: A Community-Based Study

Teenage Pregnancy and Its Associated Factors in Eastern Ethiopia: A Community-Based Study

Family Connectedness and Its Association With Sexual Risk-Taking Among Undergraduate Students at the University of Nairobi

A comprehensive reproductive health program for vulnerable adolescent girls

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