Cohort analysis of adolescent first birth timing and births progression in West-Africa

Abstract

Context/Background: Adolescent Childbearing is an important factor sustaining high; fertility, childhood mortality and maternal mortality in West-Africa. We examined cohort analysis of adolescent first birth (AFB) timing and births progression in West-Africa. Data Source and Methods: Most recent round of DHS data of four countries in West-Africa were used. Women aged 20-49 years were studied. Birth timing probability, birth progression rate and hazard ratio were estimated (α=5.0%). Results: Across countries, AFB increases as the women’s year of birth cohort increases and the rate was highest among Nigerian women (r=0.773, p<0.001) but lowest in Liberia (r=0.497, p<0.001). The probability of surviving adolescent years’ interval without bearing a child was highest in Ghana for all age-cohorts, while Nigeria and Liberia exhibited similar pattern. Birth progression rate was higher among women who had AFB than women who started theirs at the later years. Hazard ratio of AFB was higher among women in age cohort 20-24 than those aged 45-49 years. Conclusion: Adolescent first birth is a problem in West-Africa but variation exist in the region. Adolescent pregnancy prevention policy is solicited in West-Africa.