Regional Trends and Socioeconomic Predictors of Adolescent Pregnancy in Nigeria

A Nationwide Study

Bibliographic Data

ID15476180
AuthorsBlessing Akombi-Inyang (0000-0002-6410-4154, UNSW Sydney, corresponding author), Emma Woolley (0000-0003-4042-8047, Macquarie University), Chinonyerem O Iheanacho (0000-0001-7690-9024, University of Calabar), Khulan Bayaraa (0000-0002-8776-0357, Mongolian National University), Pramesh Raj Ghimire (0000-0002-7902-7294, Ujyalo Nepal, Ratnanagar 44200, Nepal)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue13
Pages8222-8222
Publication date2022-07-05
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph19138222
PMID35805880
OpenAlexW4284703368
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited24

Adolescent pregnancy is a major health concern which has lifelong consequences. The aim of this study is to examine the regional trends and socioeconomic predictors of adolescent pregnancy in Nigeria. This study used pooled data from the 2008, 2013 and 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). A total of 22,761 women aged 15-19 years were selected across the three surveys. Multilevel logistic regression analysis that adjusted for cluster and survey weights was used to identify predictors of adolescent pregnancy in Nigeria, across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Adolescent pregnancy remained constant between 2008 (22.9%; 95% CI = 22.14, 24.66), and 2013 (22.5%; 95% CI = 20.58, 24.50), but a significant decline was reported in 2018 (18.7%; 95% CI = 17.12, 20.46). Trends show a decrease in adolescent pregnancy across all six geopolitical zones, except for the South-East zone which reported a slight increase (0.6%). Multivariable analysis revealed that the main socioeconomic predictors across all six geopolitical zones were: poor households, increasing age, and low education. Exposure to media (watching television and reading newspapers) was reported as predictor in all regions except the North-East geopolitical zone, while all northern zones reported high levels of adolescent pregnancy in male-led households. To address adolescent pregnancy in Nigeria, there is need to promote girls' education especially among poor households, and for the dissemination of reproductive health messages to adolescents through various forms of mass media campaign, as well as the adoption of social marketing interventions to improve sexual and reproductive health literacy

Environmental health · Geography · Population · Pregnancy · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Global Maternal and Child Health · Medicine