Abstract
Introduction: Teenage pregnancy is a common public health problem with global estimates of 16 million teenage births yearly. It is one of the major causes of maternal and neonatal mortality worldwide with the majority of the cases seen in the low and middle-income countries. Cameroon has recorded the highest fertility rate among teenagers in the entire Central African region as of 2017. Notably, there are limited data available on assessing the awareness and prevention of teenage pregnancies among secondary and high school students in Cameroon. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the prevalence and associated factors of teenage pregnancy among secondary and high school students in the Tiko Health District, South West Region, Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted whereby data was collected using self-administered questionnaires from 250 systematically sampled participants from five teaching institutions in the Tiko Health District. Data was analysed using the EPI Info software, version 7.0. The study was carried out from the 15th November 2018 to the 20th of May 2019. Results: We had a total of 250 participants. The prevalence of teenage pregnancy was 5.20% (95% CI 3.34 - 9.1). A total of 47.20% (95% CI: 37.56 - 53.6) of participants were sexually active. Having multiple partners was a major risk factor for teenage pregnancy (AOR: 3.2, 95%CI: 1.75 - 4.03, P-value: 0.03). After adjusting for confounders educational level was a risk factor for the awareness of teenage pregnancy (AOR: 0.54, 95%CI: 0.30 - 0.92, P-value: 0.04). Poor communication skills, social shyness, and lack of knowledge were potential barriers to contraceptive use. Conclusion: Having multiple sexual partners was a risk factor to the prevalence of teenage pregnancy. The majority of adolescents had considerate ideas of teenage pregnancy, its prevention, and its consequences. However, a good number of them lack adequate knowledge of a comprehensive sexuality education. Thus, measures have to be put in place to provide better sex education to adolescents.
Highlights
Teenage pregnancy is a common public health problem with global estimates of 16 million teenage births yearly
The results further revealed that 51.08% of 16 - 19 years old adolescents were sexually active
The findings revealed that 70.40% (CI: 67.56 - 74.6) of participants were aware of teenage pregnancy, its consequences, and prevention (Figure 3)
Summary
Teenage pregnancy is a common public health problem with global estimates of 16 million teenage births yearly. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence and associated factors of teenage pregnancy among secondary and high school students in the Tiko Health District, South West Region, Cameroon. One in four deaths among 15 - 19-year-old female pregnancies are of maternal origin [10] More another findings from a study carried out in Makhado municipality, South Africa indicated an increase in awareness of teenagers in that municipality about preventing teenage pregnancy 15 years after a sexual awareness program was initiated in the said locality [11]. The aim of this study was to provide data on the prevalence, awareness and prevention of teenage pregnancy among secondary and high school students in the Tiko Health District
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