Factors associated with teen pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa: a multi-country cross-sectional study

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the contextual factors associated with teenage pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa. Using DHS data we modelled females aged 15-19 with multilevel logistic regression to establish the independent influence of social disadvantage on teenage pregnancy in West, East and Southern Africa with aid of the MLwiN programme. Results showed teenage pregnancy decreased in East Africa, plateaued in West Africa and increased slightly in Southern Africa between 1992 and 2011. Multilevel multivariate regression revealed teenage pregnancy was associated with family disruption (0.39; 0.40: P<0.05), community-levels of female unemployment (1.01; 0.99: P<0.05) and community poverty (1.01; 1.02: P<0.05) in Southern and East Africa, while only community poverty (1.01; P<0.05) independently predicted the outcome in West Africa. Our findings emphasise the necessity of creating regional-specific interventions and prevention campaigns to address multilevel factors such as family disruption as well as the need for governments to address issues of unemployment, poverty and inequality.

Keywords: Teenage pregnancy, sub-Saharan Africa, multilevel modelling, family disruption, poverty, unemployment