Socioeconomic and residence-based inequalities in adolescent fertility in 39 African countries.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the advancement in sexual and reproductive healthcare services and several public health measures aimed at controlling fertility rates, countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) still experience higher adolescent fertility rates than other low-and middle-income countries. This study examined the disparities in adolescent fertility in 39 countries in SSA, focusing on socioeconomic and residence-based dimensions. METHODS: This study involved a secondary analysis of data obtained from 39 recent Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in SSA. The measures of difference (D), ratio (R), population attributable fraction (PAF), and population attributable risk (PAR) were estimated using the Health Equity Assessment Tool (HEAT) software version 3.1 developed by the World Health Organization. The measures: D, R, PAF, and PAR were used to examine the inequalities in adolescent fertility across the socioeconomic and residence-based dimensions. RESULTS: Out of the 39 countries included in the study, Guinea (D=27.70), Niger (D=27.50), Nigeria (D=23.90), and Côte d'Ivoire (D=23.60) exhibited the most significant residence-based inequalities in the rate of adolescent fertility, with the higher rate observed among adolescents in rural areas. Rwanda was the sole country that showed a slight inclination towards rural inequality in terms of the rate of adolescent fertility, with a value of D = -0.80. The burden of adolescent fertility was disproportionately higher among young women with low economic status across all the countries, exacerbating wealth-based inequities. The countries with the largest absolute discrepancies were Nigeria (D=44.70), Madagascar (D=41.10), Guinea (D=41.00), and Cameroon (D=40.20). We found significant disparities in educational attainment contributing to unequal inequalities in adolescent fertility, particularly among young women who lack access to formal education. Countries such as Madagascar (D=59.50), Chad (D=55.30), Cameroon (D=54.60), and Zimbabwe (D=50.30) had the most significant absolute disparities. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that young women residing in rural areas, those in households with low economic status and those with limited educational opportunities experience a disproportionately high burden of adolescent fertility across the 39 countries in SSA. The current findings offer valuable information to governmental entities at all levels regarding the need to ensure the provision of equitable, accessible, and dependable sexual and reproductive health services to the populace, particularly for young women. Therefore, the various stakeholders need to enhance the effectiveness of health policies and legislation pertaining to adolescent women living in rural areas, those from economically disadvantaged households, and those with limited or no access to formal education. Such interventions could potentially reduce adolescent fertility rates and mitigate the adverse maternal and child outcomes associated with high adolescent fertility in SSA.

Adolescent fertility is a major health problem for many developing countries, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Although several sexual and reproductive health initiatives have been introduced in these countries, the number of births among adolescents continues to be high. The present study looked at the socioeconomic and geographical differences in adolescent fertility across 39 countries in SSA using data from the Demographic and Health Surveys embedded into the World Health Organization's Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (WHO HEAT) software. The study found that in countries like Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, and Côte d'Ivoire, the rates of adolescent fertility varied a lot, with higher rates in rural areas. Generally, poorer young women were more likely to have babies, which made the gap between the rich and the poor even wider. Nigeria, Madagascar, Guinea, and Cameroon had the biggest differences. Education also played a role. In countries like Madagascar, Chad, Cameroon, and Zimbabwe, young women who did not go to school (had no education) were more likely to have children as teenagers.  The study showed that in all 39 countries, young women living in rural areas, those who were poorer and those who did not go to school (had no education) faced a bigger problem with adolescent fertility. The study suggests that if people who make health policies pay more attention to teenage girls in the rural areas, those who are poor and do not have much education, they could make a significant difference in reducing adolescent fertility.

Teen pregnancy involvement among African, Caribbean and Black adolescent boys and girls: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the incidence, associated factors and interventions to address teen pregnancy involvement (TPI) among African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) adolescents in North America. DESIGN: We conducted a scoping review of the literature, guided by the social-ecological model. DATA SOURCES: Studies were retrieved from databases such as Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, CINAHL, CAB Direct and Google Scholar and imported into COVIDENCE for screening. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: The Joanna Briggs Institute scoping reviews protocol guided the establishment of eligibility criteria. Included studies focused on rates, associated factors and interventions related to TPI among ACB boys and girls aged 10-19 in North America. The publication time frame was restricted to 2010-2023, encompassing both peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed studies with diverse settings. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Data were extracted from 32 articles using a form developed by the principal author, focusing on variables aligned with the research question. RESULTS: The scoping review revealed a dearth of knowledge in Canadian and other North American literature on TPI in ACB adolescents. Despite an overall decline in teen pregnancy rates, disparities persist, with interventions such as postpartum prescription of long-acting birth control and teen mentorship programmes proving effective. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the need for increased awareness, research and recognition of male involvement in adolescent pregnancies. Addressing gaps in housing, employment, healthcare, sexual health education and health systems policies for marginalised populations is crucial to mitigating TPI among ACB adolescents. IMPACT: The review underscores the urgent need for more knowledge from other North American countries, particularly those with growing ACB migrant populations.

Factors influencing unintended pregnancy and abortion among unmarried young people in Nigeria: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Unintended pregnancies and abortions among unmarried adolescents in Nigeria are outcomes of the interplay of multifaceted factors. Abortion, a global public health and social issue, impacts both developed and developing countries. This scoping review explored the literature and mapped the risk factors for unintended pregnancies and abortions among unmarried female adolescents in Nigeria. METHODS: A scoping literature search was conducted across databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, JSTOR, African Index Medicus, and Scopus. Inclusion criteria encompassed peer-reviewed articles and reports in English, focusing on unmarried female adolescents. The range of interest included the past incidents of having sex, unintended pregnancies, contraceptive use, and abortions among this demographic. Studies categorized as grey literature were excluded to ensure the reliability and validity of the synthesized information. RESULTS: A total of 560 articles, 553 identified through databases and 7 through hand search, were subjected to a comprehensive full-text review, resulting in the inclusion of 22 studies that met the criteria for the final review. The scoping review shed light on the past incidents of having sex, unintended pregnancies, contraceptive use, and abortions among unmarried adolescents in Nigeria. The range of incidence for having sex varied from 57.2% to 82.7%, with the prevalence of unintended pregnancies ranging from 23.4% to 92.7%. Contraceptive use was notably low, with 21.5% reporting low usage, contributing to the high incidence of abortions, ranging from 20.2% to 51.0%. Factors influencing unintended pregnancies included a lack of awareness of modern contraceptives and limited access to sexual and reproductive health information. For induced abortions, factors such as the impact on educational career, childbearing outside wedlock and fear of expulsion from school were identified. CONCLUSION: This scoping review, through a systematic examination of existing literature, contributes to a more robust understanding of the factors influencing unintended pregnancies and abortions among unmarried adolescents in Nigeria. The findings inform future research directions and guide the development of targeted interventions to improve reproductive health outcomes for this vulnerable population.

Factors contributing to rise in teenage pregnancy in Sekhukhune district, Limpopo province.

BACKGROUND:  The Department of Health in South Africa has reported an alarming total of 90 037 teenage girls between the ages of 10 years and 19 years who gave birth from March 2021 to April 2022, across all provinces and districts. The rise in teenage pregnancy is of serious concern as adolescents girls are more likely to experience difficult pregnancies and deliveries which could lead to detrimental effects on their health. OBJECTIVES:  The study aimed to explore and describe factors contributing to the increase in teenage pregnancy in the Sekhukhune district of Limpopo. METHOD:  The study was conducted in the healthcare facilities of Sekhukhune area. A qualitative, exploratory design was followed. Participants were purposively selected, and data were gathered through face-to-face individual interviews. Data analysis employed Tesch's inductive, descriptive coding method. RESULTS:  Negligence, peer pressure, ambiguity, choice, lack of contraceptive use, and lack of family attachment were identified as exacerbating factors in the district's surge in teenage pregnancy. CONCLUSION:  To reduce teen pregnancy, it is crucial to promote contraception, enhance cooperation between schools and the government, involve families in sexual and reproductive health discussions, prioritise a supportive home environment, advocate for child support grants, revitalise school health services, and empower teenagers to make informed choices and resist peer pressure.Contribution: The study will provide guidance to policy makers and other stakeholders in developing appropriate programmes to address the problem and improve the health and socioeconomic status of adolescents in rural areas. This will reduce healthcare costs associated with complications and premature birth.

Prevalence and factors associated with antepartum depression among adolescent women in the assin north district of Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Globally, depression is a leading cause of disease-related disability among women. In low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs), the prevalence rate of antepartum depression is estimated to range between 15% and 57% and even higher in adolescent antepartum women. Although a number of studies have shown that depression is common in adolescent pregnancies and has a prevalence rate between 28% and 67% among adolescent mothers, there currently exists no literature on depression among adolescent pregnant women in Ghana. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of antepartum depression and identify the factors associated with it among pregnant adolescent women. METHODS: A quantitative cross-sectional study design was adopted by randomly recruiting 220 adolescent pregnant women visiting antenatal clinics in five selected health facilities in five communities in the Assin North District of Ghana. Data were collected using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Data analysis was performed using Stata version 14. Both descriptive and inferential analyses were performed. A chi-square analysis was conducted to identify the association between independent and dependent variables. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify the independent variables that were significantly associated with the dependent variable. In all analyses, p-values ≤ 0.05 were deemed statistically significant at a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The results indicated prevalence of depression was 38.6% using the EPDS cut-off ≥ 13. Respondents who were cohabiting were less likely to experiencing antepartum depression compared to those who were single (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.20-0.64, p = 0.001). Also, Respondents who had completed Junior High School had a lower likelihood of experiencing antepartum depression compared to those who had no formal education (AOR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.05-0.76, p = 0.019). Respondents who perceived pregnancy-related items to be costly had higher odds of experiencing antepartum depression (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.02-4.12, p = 0.042). Lastly, adolescent pregnant women who reported that pregnancy-related items are costly were likely to experience antepartum depression compared to those who did not report such costs (AOR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.20-3.75, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study highlight the importance of a multi-pronged strategy for combating antepartum depression in adolescents and improving the overall health and well-being of pregnant adolescents. Considering that adolescence is a transitional period occasioned by several bio-psycho-social challenges, setting up systems to ensure that young girls are motivated and supported to stay in school will enhance their economic prospects and improve their standards of life while providing psycho-social support will benefit their health and general well-being.

How to decrease teenage pregnancy: rural perspectives in Ecuador.

Introduction: This study aimed to understand the sociocultural context of teenage pregnancy in an Ecuadorian city with a large indigenous population, to gauge the acceptability of a multifaceted pregnancy prevention program for adolescents, and to elicit perspectives on the optimal program design from adolescents and adult key informants. Methods: We ascertained qualitative data via an online, electronic survey administered from August to September 2020. Open- and closed-ended questions elicited perspectives relating to burden of adolescent pregnancies, acceptability of pregnancy prevention programs, and optimal design of future programs. Twenty-four adolescents (13-19 years of age) and 15 adult key informants working in the healthcare, business, and education sectors in Cotacachi completed the survey. Survey responses were analyzed using a structural and in vivo coding, and an inductive approach to consensus-building around key themes. Results: Most adolescent survey respondents (75%) believed that teen pregnancy is "fairly common" in Cotacachi, and 41.7% believed differences in teen pregnancy rates are not associated with ethnicity. In comparison, 66.7% of adult survey respondents said teen pregnancy disproportionately occurs among indigenous teenagers. Additionally, 45.8% of adolescent and 80% of adult survey respondents believed that a comprehensive sexual education program would help reduce teenage pregnancy rates by imparting reliable sexual health knowledge. Adult respondents noted that the past programs were unsuccessful in preventing teenage pregnancy because of these programs' inability to fully engage teenagers' attention, very short time duration, or inappropriate consideration of cultural context. Discussion: In Cotacachi, Ecuador, a sexual health education program is both desired and feasible according to adult and teenager key informants. A successful program must adapt to the cultural context and engage youth participation and attention.

Utilizing social determinants of health to identify most vulnerable neighborhoods-Latent class analysis and GIS map.

OBJECTIVES: Public Health officials are often challenged to effectively allocate limited resources. Social determinants of health (SDOH) may cluster in areas to cause unique profiles related to various adverse life events. The authors use the framework of unintended teen pregnancies to illustrate how to identify the most vulnerable neighborhoods. METHODS: This study used data from the U.S. American Community Survey, Princeton Eviction Lab, and Connecticut Office of Vital Records. Census tracts are small statistical subdivisions of a county. Latent class analysis (LCA) was employed to separate the 832 Connecticut census tracts into four distinct latent classes based on SDOH, and GIS mapping was utilized to visualize the distribution of the most vulnerable neighborhoods. GEE Poisson regression model was used to assess whether latent classes were related to the outcome. Data were analyzed in May 2021. RESULTS: LCA's results showed that class 1 (non-minority non-disadvantaged tracts) had the least diversity and lowest poverty of the four classes. Compared to class 1, class 2 (minority non-disadvantaged tracts) had more households with no health insurance and with single parents; and class 3 (non-minority disadvantaged tracts) had more households with no vehicle available, that had moved from another place in the past year, were low income, and living in renter-occupied housing. Class 4 (minority disadvantaged tracts) had the lowest socioeconomic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: LCA can identify unique profiles for neighborhoods vulnerable to adverse events, setting up the potential for differential intervention strategies for communities with varying risk profiles. Our approach may be generalizable to other areas or other programs. KEY MESSAGES: What is already known on this topic Public health practitioners struggle to develop interventions that are universally effective. The teen birth rates vary tremendously by race and ethnicity. Unplanned teen pregnancy rates are related to multiple social determinants and behaviors. Latent class analysis has been applied successfully to address public health problems. What this study adds While it is the pregnancy that is not planned rather than the birth, access to pregnancy intention data is not available resulting in a dependency on teen birth data for developing public health strategies. Using teen birth rates to identify at-risk neighborhoods will not directly represent the teens at risk for pregnancy but rather those who delivered a live birth. Since teen birth rates often fluctuate due to small numbers, especially for small neighborhoods, LCA may avoid some of the limitations associated with direct rate comparisons. The authors illustrate how practitioners can use publicly available SDOH from the Census Bureau to identify distinct SDOH profiles for teen births at the census tract level. How this study might affect research, practice or policy These profiles of classes that are at heightened risk potentially can be used to tailor intervention plans for reducing unintended teen pregnancy. The approach may be adapted to other programs and other states to prioritize the allocation of limited resources.

Health and well-being of young mothers displaced by conflict: Experiences from South Sudan and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Giving birth during adolescence is linked to a variety of negative outcomes, including poor health and well-being. Girls who have been displaced by conflict are at increased risk for becoming young mothers. While prevalence rates and health outcomes have been documented, rarely have the complex personal narratives of early motherhood been examined from the perspectives of mothers themselves, particularly in the Global South. This study relies on in-depth, inductive, narrative analysis of qualitative interviews with 67 young mothers and 10 relatives in South Sudan and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) who had been displaced by conflict. This study provides deep insights into the contributing circumstances and consequences of young motherhood from sexual and reproductive health and well-being perspectives, with additional insights on mothering in humanitarian crisis.

When everyone's doing it: The relative effects of geographical context and social determinants of health on teen birth rates.

Geographic disparities in teen birth rates in the U.S. persist, despite overall reductions over the last two decades. Research suggests these disparities might be driven by spatial variations in social determinants of health (SDOH). An alternative view is that "place" or "geographical context" affects teen birth rates so that they would remain uneven across the U.S. even if all SDOH were constant. We use multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) to quantify the relative effects of geographical context, independent of SDOH, on county-level teen birth rates across the U.S. Findings indicate that even if all counties had identical compositions with respect to SDOH, strong geographic disparities in teen birth rates would still persist. Additionally, local parameter estimates show the relationships between several components of SDOH and teen birth rates vary over space in both direction and magnitude, confirming that global regression techniques commonly employed to examine these relationships likely obscure meaningful contextual differences in these relationships. Findings from this analysis suggest that reducing geographic disparities in teen birth rates will require not only ameliorating differences in SDOH across counties but also combating community norms that contribute to high rates of teen birth, particularly in the southern U.S. Further, the results suggest that if geographical context is not incorporated into models of SDOH, the effects of such determinants may be interpreted incorrectly.

The impact of juvenile curfews on teenage birth rates.

I examine the effect of city-level juvenile curfews on teenage birth rates using the National Center for Health Statistics birth data from 1982 to 2002. I compare differences in birth rates between younger and older age groups in cities with and without curfew ordinances. Before curfew adoption, the age differential in birth rates trended similarly for cities that did and did not adopt a curfew. There were significant decreases in the age differential birth rates in cities that adopted a curfew relative to cities that did not. Curfews reduced birth rates by approximately 3 births per 1000 women ages 15-17. I find a decrease in birth rates among white women. The main results are corroborated using a variety of robustness checks and specifications.

The sexual and reproductive health covariates of early menarche among adolescent girls.

INTRODUCTION: Research suggests that girls who reach menarche at an early age are at greater risk for negative sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes than their later-maturing counterparts, but very little research has examined this issue in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in West Africa. The goal of the current study was to determine whether early menarche was associated with any SRH outcomes in a sample of Ghanaian girls. METHODS: The study data were drawn from the baseline assessment of a longitudinal study involving two age cohorts (13-14 and 18-19 years) of 700 adolescent girls from Ghana. Logistic regressions were used to assess the association between early menarche (before age 13) and seven SRH outcomes (adolescent sexual activity, early sexual initiation, inconsistent condom use, transactional sex, sexual violence, multiple sexual partners, and adolescent pregnancy). RESULTS: Early menarche was significantly associated with adolescent sexual activity (odds ratio [OR] = 6.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1-19.7), and sexual violence (OR = 3.2; 95% CI 1.6-6.2) in the younger cohort and early sexual initiation (OR = 3.2; 95% CI 1.19-8.61) and multiple sexual partners (OR = 3.7; 95% CI 1.39-9.87) in the older cohort. Early menarche was also associated with transactional sex and teen pregnancy in the full sample. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the need for special attention to the needs of early-maturing girls in SRH programming. Interventions are needed to delay adolescent sexual activity in girls with early menarche. Efforts to prevent sexual violence among adolescent girls in Ghana may benefit from targeting and addressing the specific needs of early-maturing girls.

Prenatal care utilization and perinatal outcomes among pregnant adolescents in Mexico, 2008-2019.

OBJECTIVE: To describe utilization of prenatal care and outcomes of low birth weight and preterm birth among adolescent births in Mexico. METHODS: We used birth certificate data and included live births to individuals 10-24 years, 2008-2019. Our outcomes were binary measures of adequate prenatal care, low birth weight, and preterm birth. We compared adolescents (10-14 years, 15-16, and 17-19) to those 20-24 years. We included individual-, clinical-, and municipality-level variables, used multivariable logistic regression, and calculated adjusted predicted probabilities. We also tested whether receipt of prenatal care moderated the relationship of age with preterm birth and low birth weight. RESULTS: We included a total of 12 106 710 births to women 10-24 years. The adjusted predicted probability of adequate prenatal care increased with age: 56.07% (95% CI 55.82-56.31%) adjusted probability among adolescents 10-14 years compared with 65.51% (95% CI 65.48%-65.55%) among individuals 20-24 years. Receipt of adequate prenatal care in part mitigated disparities in preterm birth and low birthweight across all age groups: 7.30% (95% CI 7.17%-7.43%) adjusted probability of delivering a preterm infant among those 10-14 years who received adequate prenatal care compared with 9.37% (95% CI 9.20%-9.53%) among those 10-14 years without adequate prenatal care. CONCLUSION: In Mexico, adolescent pregnancies are associated with inadequate prenatal care as well as higher odds of preterm delivery and low birth weight. Youngest adolescents (10-14 years) have the highest probability of adverse outcomes. Adequate prenatal care may help partially mitigate disparities in poor perinatal outcomes.

Intimate partner violence during pregnancy against adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent pregnancy and intimate partner violence (IPV) are major public health issues that are linked to poor health outcomes particularly during pregnancy. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), previous studies on IPV during pregnancy have primarily focused on adults. This review examines the available evidence on adolescents' experience of IPV during pregnancy in SSA. DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: We searched multiple databases for articles that met our inclusion criteria. Included studies investigated IPV during pregnancy, including prevalence, risk factors and health outcomes among ever-pregnant adolescents aged 10-19 years old or younger in SSA. Studies were peer-reviewed studies from SSA, quantitative and/or qualitative; and published in English regardless of the year of publication. RESULTS: Nine studies out of 570 abstracts screened, published between 2007 and 2020, met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of IPV during pregnancy among adolescents in SSA ranged from 8.3% to 41%. Mental health symptoms, particularly depression, and anxiety, were associated with adolescent IPV during pregnancy and qualitatively linked to poor coping strategies when dealing with IPV. CONCLUSION: This review found evidence of a linkage between pregnancy and IPV during pregnancy among adolescents. Given the long-term negative effects of IPV during pregnancy on adolescents and children, this conclusion points to the critical need for developing interventions to improve IPV detection during pregnancy in SSA among adolescents to interrupt its continuation into adulthood.

Fatores relacionados à gravidez na adolescência: perfil reprodutivo de um grupo de gestantes / Factors related to pregnancy in adolescence: reproductive profile of a group of pregnant women / Factores relacionados con el embarazo en la adolescencia: perfil reproductivo de un grupo de mujeres embarazadas

Objetivo: descrever o perfil reprodutivo de mulheres adolescentes participantes de um grupo de gestantes. Método: estudo descritivo, transversal, documental e retrospectivo realizado através da ficha de cadastro de participantes de um grupo de gestante vinculado ao consultório de enfermagem de uma universidade pública federal do rio de janeiro em 2018. Resultados: analisou-se 59 cadastros. houve predominância de mulheres, jovens (71,2%); solteiras (72,3%); multíparas (56%); que tiveram cesárea como via de parto anteriormente (39%); no segundo trimestre de gestação (61%); tipo de pré-natal público (86,4%); desejando a via de parto vaginal (45,8%) e laqueadura pós-parto como método contraceptivo (30,5%), participaram do grupo sem acompanhantes (79,7%) e desejam visita domiciliar pós-parto (78%). Conclusão: identificou-se a necessidade, fatores relacionados e vulnerabilidades em saúde reprodutiva com vistas a implementação de cuidados primários voltados à promoção da saúde, prevenção de agravos e detecção precoce.

Objective: to describe the reproductive profile of adolescent women participating in a group of pregnant women. Method:descriptive, cross-sectional, documentary and retrospective study carried out through the registration form of participants of a group of pregnant women linked to the nursing office of a federal public university in Rio de Janeiro in 2018. Results: 59 records were analyzed. there was a predominance of women, young people (71.2%); single (72.3%); multiparous (56%); who had previously had a cesarean section (39%); in the second trimester of pregnancy (61%); type of public prenatal care (86.4%); desiring vaginal delivery (45.8%) and postpartum tubal ligation as a contraceptive method (30.5%), participated in the group without companions (79.7%) and desired postpartum home visit (78%). Conclusion: the need, related factors and vulnerabilities in reproductive health were identified with a view to implementing primary care aimed at health promotion, disease prevention and early detection.

Objetivo: describir el perfil reproductivo de mujeres adolescentes participantes de un grupo de gestantes. Método: estudio descriptivo, transversal, documental y retrospectivo realizado a través del formulario de registro de participantes de un grupo de gestantes vinculadas al consultorio de enfermería de una universidad pública federal de Río de Janeiro en 2018. Resultados: se analizaron 59 registros. hubo predominio de mujeres, jóvenes (71,2%); soltero (72,3%); multíparas (56%); que previamente había tenido una cesárea (39%); en el segundo trimestre del embarazo (61%); tipo de atención prenatal pública (86,4%); deseando parto vaginal (45,8%) y ligadura de trompas posparto como método anticonceptivo (30,5%), participaron del grupo sin acompañantes (79,7%) y desearon visita domiciliaria posparto (78%). Conclusión: se identificaron la necesidad, los factores relacionados y las vulnerabilidades en salud reproductiva para la implementación de la atención primaria dirigida a la promoción de la salud, la prevención de enfermedades y la detección temprana.

Adverse Maternal and Delivery Outcomes in Children and Very Young (Age ≤13 Years) US Adolescents Compared With Older Adolescents and Adults.

This study uses a US claims database to compare morbidity and delivery outcomes among pregnant 10- to 13-year-olds vs 14- to 17-year-olds and 18- to 19-year-olds.

Factores sociales y demográficos asociados al embarazo y al embarazo repetido en mujeres adolescentes de Perú / Social and demographic factors associated with pregnancy and repeated pregnancy in adolescent women in Peru

OBJETIVO: Evaluar los factores sociales y demográficos asociados al embarazo y al embarazo repetido en mujeres adolescentes de Perú MÉTODO: Estudio transversal analítico realizado a partir de las encuestas de población ENDES 2009 a 2018 en Perú. Participaron mujeres adolescentes entre 12 y 19 años de edad. Se recogió información de condición de embarazo y características sociales y demográficas. Se aplicó la prueba de χ2 y se calculó la razón de prevalencia ajustada con su intervalo de confianza al 95% usando regresión de Poisson con varianza robusta. RESULTADOS: En el estudio se incluyeron 49 676 mujeres adolescentes. El 12,6% tuvieron un embarazo y el 5,1% tuvieron dos o más embarazos. Se evidenció asociación entre edad, región geográfica, origen étnico, nivel educativo, nivel económico y embarazo adolescente (p < 0,001). Los niveles educativo y económico inferiores presentaron una mayor razón de prevalencia de embarazo adolescente, siendo mayor incluso en situaciones de dos o más embarazos. CONCLUSIONES: En la población de mujeres adolescentes de Perú, el 17,7% estuvieron embarazadas y el 5,1% tuvieron embarazo repetido. Existe asociación entre embarazo adolescente y bajos niveles económico y educativo; esta asociación se incrementa en situaciones de embarazo repetido.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the social and demographic factors associated with pregnancy and repeated pregnancy in adolescent women in Peru. METHOD: Analytical cross-sectional study carried out from the ENDES population surveys 2009 to 2018 in Peru. Adolescent women between 12 and 19 years of age participated. Information on pregnancy status and number of children was collected, as well as social and demographic characteristics. The χ2 test was applied, the adjusted prevalence ratio with its 95% confidence interval was calculated using Poisson regression with robust variance. RESULTS: 49 676 adolescent women were included in the study. The 17.7% had one or more pregnancies and 5.1% two or more pregnancies. The analysis showed an association between geographic region, age, ethnic origin, educational level, economic level and adolescent pregnancy (p < 0.001). The lower levels of educational level and economic level presented a higher prevalence ratio of adolescent pregnancy, being higher even in situations of two or more pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: In the population of adolescent women in Peru, 17.7% were pregnant and 5.1% had repeated pregnancy. Adolescent pregnancy is associated with low economic and educational levels; this association increases in situations of repeated pregnancy.

Early age at first childbirth and skilled birth attendance during delivery among young women in sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND: Despite the numerous policy interventions targeted at preventing early age at first childbirth globally, the prevalence of adolescent childbirth remains high. Meanwhile, skilled birth attendance is considered essential in preventing childbirth-related complications and deaths among adolescent mothers. Therefore, we estimated the prevalence of early age at first childbirth and skilled birth attendance among young women in sub-Saharan Africa and investigated the association between them. METHODS: Demographic and Health Survey data of 29 sub-Saharan African countries was utilized. Skilled birth attendance and age at first birth were the outcome and the key explanatory variables in this study respectively. Overall, a total of 52,875 young women aged 20-24 years were included in our study. A multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was performed and the results presented as crude and adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Approximately 73% of young women had their first birth when they were less than 20 years with Chad having the highest proportion (85.7%) and Rwanda recording the lowest (43.3%). The average proportion of those who had skilled assistance during delivery in the 29 sub-Saharan African countries was 75.3% and this ranged from 38.4% in Chad to 93.7% in Rwanda. Young women who had their first birth at the age of 20-24 were more likely to have skilled birth attendance during delivery (aOR = 2.4, CI = 2.24-2.53) than those who had their first birth before 20 years. CONCLUSION: Early age at first childbirth has been found to be associated with low skilled assistance during delivery. These findings re-emphasize the need for sub-Saharan African countries to implement programs that will sensitize and encourage the patronage of skilled birth attendance among young women in order to reduce complications and maternal mortalities. The lower likelihood of skilled birth attendance among young women who had their first birth when they were adolescents could mean that this cohort of young women face some barriers in accessing maternal healthcare services.

Pregnancy in adolescence in Brazil: associated factors with maternal age / Gravidez na adolescência no Brasil: fatores associados à idade materna

Abstract Objectives: describing maternal characteristics, risk behavior, obstetric data, prenatal care and childbirth in adolescent mothers in Brazil (age groups: 12-16 years and 17-19 years). Methods: hospital-based cross-sectional study substantiated by Nascer no Brasil", (Born in Brazil) data. The study encompassed puerperal adolescent mothers from all regions in the country, and their newborns. Chi-square test was used to compare adolescents in the 12-16 years old age group and those in the 17-19 years old age group. Results: pregnant women in the 12-16 years old age group mostly lived in the Northeast of Brazil (p=0.014); most of them did not have a partner (p<0.001), unplanned pregnancy (p<0.001), they had inadequate schooling for their age (p=0.033), had less than six prenatal consultations (p=0.021), were subjected to episiotomy (p=0.042) and accounted for the largest number of premature babies (p=0.014). Conclusions: puerperal women in the 12-16 years old age group presented vulnerability in their socioeconomic conditions, inadequate assistance at the prenatal and childbirth care, as well as their babies showed neonatal complications that pointed towards these adolescent mothers' need of multidisciplinary care.

Resumo Objetivos: descrever características maternas, comportamentos de risco, dados obstétricos, de pré-natal e parto de puérperas adolescentes do Brasil (12-16 anos e 17-19 anos). Métodos: estudo transversal, de base hospitalar, a partir de dados do estudo "Nascer no Brasil" composto por puérperas adolescentes e por seus recém-nascidos, em todas as regiões do país. Utilizou-se o teste qui-quadrado para comparar as adolescentes de 12-16 anos com as de 17-19 anos. Resultados: as gestantes de 12-16 anos viviam mais na região Nordeste do país (p=0,014), nelas foi mais frequente não ter companheiro (p<0,001), engravidar sem intenção (p<0,001), apresentar escolaridade inadequada para a idade (p=0,033), realizar menos de seis consultas de pré-natal (p=0,021), a episiotomia (p=0,042) e a prematuridade espontânea (p=0,014). Conclusão: as puérperas na faixa etária de 12-16 anos apresentavam mais condições de vulnerabilidade socioeconômica, atenção menos adequada no pré-natal e parto, além de complicações neonatais de seus bebês, sinalizando a necessidade de atenção multiprofissional a essas adolescentes.

Effect of peer counselling on acceptance of modern contraceptives among female refugee adolescents in northern Uganda: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The unmet need for contraceptives among refugee adolescents is high globally, leaving girls vulnerable to unintended pregnancies. Lack of knowledge and fear of side effects are the most reported reasons for non-use of contraceptives amongst refugee adolescents. Peer counselling, the use of trained adolescents to offer contraceptive counselling to fellow peers, has showed effectiveness in increasing use of contraceptives in non-refugee adolescent resarch. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of peer counselling on acceptance of modern contraceptives among female refugee adolescents in northern Uganda. METHODS: A randomised controlled trial carried out in Palabek refugee settlement in northern Uganda, May to July 2019. Adolescents were included if they were sexually active or in any form of union, wanted to delay child bearing, and were not using any contraceptives. A total of 588 consenting adolescents were randomised to either peer counselling or routine counselling, the standard of care. RESULTS: Adolescents who received peer counselling were more likely to accept a contraceptive method compared to those who received routine counselling (PR: 1·24, 95% CI: 1·03 to 1·50, p = 0·023). Adolescents whose partners had attained up to tertiary education were more likely to accept a method than those whose partners had secondary or less education (PR: 1·45, 95% CI: 1·02 to 2·06, p = 0·037). In both groups, the most frequently accepted methods were the injectable and implant, with the commonest reasons for non-acceptance of contraception being fear of side effects and partner prohibition. CONCLUSION: Our data indicates that peer counselling has a positive effect on same day acceptance of modern contraceptives and should therefore be considered in future efforts to prevent adolescent pregnancies in refugee settings. Future peer counselling interventions should focus on how to effectively address adolescents' fear of side effects and partner prohibition, as these factors continue to impede decision making for contraceptive uptake.