Teenage pregnancy and its associated factors in Kenya: a multilevel logistic regression analysis based on the recent 2022 Kenyan demographic and health survey

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy remains a critical public health issue in developing countries, significantly impacting maternal health. In Kenya, despite an expected decrease in teenage pregnancy rates from 18% in 2014 to 15% in 2022, evidence on its prevalence and associated factors is still limited. This study utilized data from the latest Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, analysing 6,390 participants through multilevel binary logistic regression. The findings revealed a 15.3% prevalence (95%CI: 14.4, 16.2%) and identified key factors linked to teenage pregnancy, including being aged 18–19, higher education, contraceptive use, unemployment, wealth status, media exposure, and a higher proportion of uneducated individuals. The study underscores the urgent need for strategic investment in policy development and evaluation to enhance adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Targeted interventions should prioritize economically disadvantaged households, focusing on maternal education and empowerment to reduce teenage pregnancies by 2030.