article · Archives of Public Health
Adolescent pregnancy remains a significant public health issue with substantial variation across regions. An analysis of survey data from 9,448 adolescents aged 15 to 19 examined the spatial distribution and associated socio-demographic factors across Nigeria. The prevalence of adolescent pregnancy ranged widely between localities, from 0 to 66.67 percent, with high concentrations identified in northern regions. Being married was very strongly associated with an increased likelihood of pregnancy, as were having a sexual debut between ages 15 and 19 and identifying with Igbo ethnicity. In contrast, adolescents who were actively working were significantly less likely to experience pregnancy. The findings highlight how geographic location, marital status, employment, age at sexual debut, and ethnicity shape pregnancy patterns, providing evidence to inform targeted reproductive health programmes.
Adolescent pregnancy carries profound consequences for maternal health, educational attainment, and socio-economic wellbeing. Mapping geographic hotspots and identifying demographic risk factors allows health authorities, non-governmental organisations, and policymakers to focus resources where need is greatest. Recognising that regional location, marital status, and employment directly influence pregnancy rates enables the development of tailored public health initiatives rather than generic, one-size-fits-all interventions.
The abstract does not indicate an application pathway.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
BACKGROUND: Adolescent pregnancy is a global public health and social phenomenon. However, the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy varies between and within countries. This study, therefore, sought to investigate the spatial distribution and factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in Nigeria. METHODS: Using data from the women's recode file, a sample of 9448 adolescents aged 15-19 were considered as the sample size for this study. We employed a multilevel and spatial analyses to ascertain the factors associated with adolescent pregnancy and its spatial clustering. RESULTS: The spatial distribution of adolescent pregnancy in Nigeria ranges from 0 to 66.67%. A high proportion of adolescent pregnancy was located in the Northern parts of Nigeria. The likelihood of adolescent pregnancy in Nigeria was high among those who had sexual debut between 15 to 19 years [aOR = 1.49; 95%(CI = 1.16-1.92)], those who were currently married [aOR = 67.00; 95%(CI = 41.27-108.76)], and adolescents whose ethnicity were Igbo [aOR = 3.73; 95%(CI = 1.04-13.30)], while adolescents who were currently working [aOR = 0.69; 95%(CI = 0.55-0.88)] were less likely to have adolescent pregnancy. CONCLUSION: A high proportion of adolescent pregnancy was located in the Northern parts of Nigeria. In addition, age at sexual debut, educational level, marital status, ethnicity, and working status were associated with adolescent pregnancy. Therefore, it is vital to take cognizant of these factors in designing adolescent pregnancy prevention programs or strengthening existing efforts in Nigeria.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1186/s13690-022-00789-3
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
