International Journal of Advance Research Publication and Reviews

International Journal of Advance Research Publication and Reviews
Peer-Reviewed | Multi-Disciplinary Journal

ISSN: 3049-0103 (O)

Impact Factor: 4.33

Trends in Teenage Pregnancy in Africa from 1986 to 2024: A Cause for Public Health Concern

Author

Jallah Mans Kennedy , Joe Kabeywollie

Abstract

 Despite the decline, high teenage pregnancy rates among women aged 15-19 years old in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries remain a public health concern. The region has some of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy globally, often linked to cultural and peer pressure, pressure for early marriage and to bear children, sexual abuse, access/level of use of contraceptives, poverty, access to education, and place of residence. Teenage pregnancy is a significant factor that contributes to the risk of maternal mortality. Risk factors associated with adolescent pregnancy include underdeveloped body systems to withstand the stress of pregnancy; mental health; bleeding; abortion, eclampsia; and puerperal and systemic infections. Babies born to teenage mothers are at higher risk of low birth weight, preterm birth, and severe neonatal conditions. We analyzed data from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) to identify trends for comparisons. This information supports public health decision-making processes to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and lower maternal mortality.

We obtained data from the DHS of 41 countries in Africa over 38 years from 1986 to 2024. The DHS is produced every five years, but not all countries are aligned with the same year ranges. We considered DHS within the 5-year range as single units to create an eight-block grouping. Stepwise processes excluded 20 countries with less than three DHS, limited years reported, and completeness/availability of data. Average rates were pooled for the countries that reported. For countries where data collection for blocks that span multiple years (e.g., 2000-01; 2019-21) and proceed into the next block, the default practice is to use the preceding year, although exceptions may occur if specified in the following year.

Trend analyses focused on three main variables: teenagers who are mothers, teenagers who are pregnant with their first child, and teenagers who have begun childbearing, which highlighted age, place of residence, educational level, and wealth quintiles. Over the 38 years, the percentage of teenagers who are mothers decreased from 22.95 in 1986-1990 to 16.58 in 2021-2024, accounting for a 27.77% decrease. The rate of teenagers who began childbearing decreased from 29.35 in 1986-1990 to 20.19 in 2021-2024, accounting for a 31.21% decrease. The results varied across countries; however, Mali, Niger, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, [REDACTED], Mozambique, Chad, and Madagascar exhibited higher trends in teenage motherhood rates depending on the review periods when compared with other countries.

Although there has been a decline, the teenage pregnancy rate in SSA remains significantly higher, at 97.9 births per 1,000 women in 2023, compared to the global rate of 41.3 births per 1,000 women. Women in rural areas and those without formal education have a higher rate. Ongoing improvement in public health measures should be emphasized to reduce the influence and risk associated with teenage pregnancy. Preventing teenage pregnancies can provide girls with the chance to avoid stress related to pregnancy and childcare, concentrate on their education, minimize the risks of complications, break the cycle of poverty, and reach their full potential.


Keywords

Teenage pregnancy, Sub-Saharan Africa, Demographic and Health Surveys, Maternal health, Adolescents, Public health

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