article · International Journal of Public Health
An analysis of nationally representative data from 3,083 Tanzanian girls aged 15 to 19 reveals key influences on teenage pregnancy. Older teenagers aged 18 to 19, individuals from the Southern zone, and those reporting fewer difficulties obtaining permission to access healthcare faced higher odds of having ever been pregnant. Conversely, educational attainment and marital timing provided protective effects. Teenagers who attained a secondary education or higher, alongside those who married after age 15, experienced significantly lower odds of pregnancy. These findings demonstrate that sexual and reproductive health initiatives must reach older adolescents with limited schooling and those from economically disadvantaged households, whilst educational systems must actively support girls to complete at least secondary-level studies.
Teenage pregnancy carries profound social and economic consequences for young women. Using recent, nationally representative survey data, this research pinpoints specific vulnerabilities such as geographic location, early marriage, and low educational attainment. Understanding these drivers enables policymakers, public health practitioners, and civil society organisations to target resources effectively, focusing interventions on older adolescents, economically disadvantaged families, and regions with the greatest demonstrated need.
The abstract does not indicate an application pathway, as it focuses on public health analysis and policy recommendations rather than a commercial product or service.
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Objective: Few studies on teenage pregnancy in Tanzania have used a nationally representative sample. This study sought to determine the prevalence and factors associated with teenage pregnancy in Tanzania. Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis of 3,083 teenagers aged 15-19 years drawn from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey. Results: After controlling for other covariates, we found that teenagers aged 18-19 years (AOR = 4.5, 95% CI:3.3, 6.1), those who said that getting permission to access healthcare was not a big problem (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI:1.4, 5.3), and those from the Southern zone (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.5, 3.9), had higher odds of reporting ever having been pregnant. Those with secondary or higher education levels (AOR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.39) and those who married after age 15 (AOR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2, 0.8), had lower odds of reporting ever having been pregnant. Conclusion: This study highlights the significant factors associated with teenage pregnancy among teenagers aged 15-19 years in Tanzania. The education system should facilitate the majority of girls obtaining at least a secondary level of education. Teenager-friendly sexual and reproductive health services need to prioritize older teenagers, with lower education levels and those from poor families.
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DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2025.1608146
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