Which of the following is a characteristic associated with adolescent pregnancy

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Open access

Summary

Background

Adolescence is a critical period of maturation when nutrient needs are high, especially among adolescents entering pregnancy. Using individual-level data from 140,000 participants, we examined socioeconomic, nutrition, and pregnancy and birth outcomes for adolescent mothers (10–19 years) compared to older mothers in low and middle-income countries.

Methods

This study was conducted between March 16, 2018 and May 25, 2021. Data were obtained from 20 randomised controlled trials of micronutrient supplementation in pregnancy. Stratified analyses were conducted by age (10–14 years, 15–17 years, 18–19 years, 20–29 years, 30–39 years, 40+ years) and geographical region (Africa, Asia). Crude and confounder-adjusted means, prevalence and relative risks of pregnancy, nutrition and birth outcomes were estimated using multivariable linear and log-binomial regression models with 95% confidence intervals.

Findings

Adolescent mothers comprised 31.6% of our data. Preterm birth, small-for-gestational age (SGA), low birthweight (LBW) and newborn mortality followed a U-shaped trend in which prevalence was highest among the youngest mothers (10–14 years) and then reduced gradually, but increased again for older mothers (40+ years). When compared to mothers aged 20–29 years, there was a 23% increased risk of preterm birth, a 60% increased risk of perinatal mortality, a 63% increased risk of neonatal mortality, a 28% increased risk of LBW, and a 22% increased risk of SGA among mothers 10–14 years. Mothers 40+ years experienced a 22% increased risk of preterm birth and a 103% increased risk of stillbirth when compared to the 20–29 year group.

Interpretation

The youngest and oldest mothers suffer most from adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. Policy and programming agendas should consider both biological and socioeconomic/environmental factors when targeting these populations.

Funding

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Grant No: OP1137750).

Keywords

Adolescence

Age

Determinants

Pregnancy

Birth outcomes

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Under a Creative Commons license

Open access

Abstract

Adolescent pregnancy is an important social and public health issue worldwide, and it is linked to several social and economic consequences. This study sought to investigate the factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in the Sunyani municipality of Ghana. This study was an unmatched case-control among adolescents aged 15–19 years. The cases were pregnant and parenting adolescents, and controls were non-pregnant adolescents with no birth experience. Data were collected from 245 participants (120 cases and 125 controls) through a structured questionnaire survey and analysed with STATA version 12 for risk factors of adolescent pregnancy using Pearson’s chi-square test and logistic regression.

The average age of study participants was 16.9 ± 1.15 years. Place of residence, occupation and economic status were found to be associated with adolescent pregnancy. Multiple logistic regression revealed that adolescents from urban settings, Abesim zone (OR = 0.07, 95% CI 0.01–0.35), and New Dormaa zone (OR = 0.19, 95% CI 0.05–0.77) had decreased odds of adolescent pregnancy compared to their rural counterpart-Antwikrom zone. Adolescents were also at increased odds of becoming pregnant when they were into apprenticeships (OR = 9.77, 95% CI 2.00–47.75) or unemployed (OR = 11.69, 95% CI 4.47–30.58) than being in school. Adolescents with low economic background (OR = 4.05, 95% CI 1.43–11.52) were 4.1 times more likely to get pregnant compared to those with high economic status.

Key factors associated with adolescent pregnancy have been established and these need attention from all stakeholders to forestall public and social health safety among adolescents.

Keywords

Adolescent pregnancy

Case control

Sunyani

Ghana

© 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.