Risk Factors Associated with Unplanned Pregnancy among Adolescents in Rural Communities: Implications for Nurses

Abstract

Context: The high incidence of unplanned pregnancy among adolescents is a significant public health issue contributing to maternal and child mortality. This review aimed at identifying risk factors influencing unplanned pregnancy and measures applied by nurses to provide quality healthcare services to rural adolescents. Evidence Acquisition: We conducted a narrative review on risk factors influencing unplanned pregnancy and measures taken by nurses to provide quality healthcare services to adolescents. An ecological model was adopted in guiding the analysis. The data source were the research and review articles published in peer-reviewed journals using PubMed, Science direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. We hired two independent reviewers for data extraction. Initially, the records of 843 articles were assessed, out of which 60 articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, hence included in the review. Results: The model recognizes multiple levels of influence on health behaviours, including intrapersonal factors (individual’s educational status, sexual activity and contraceptives use), interpersonal factors (poor parent-adolescent communication, influence of peers and media), organizational factors (sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education and services), contextual factors (socio-cultural norms), and public policy (which provides no accessibility to quality SRH services for adolescents). Youthfriendly SRH education and services were some of the identified Nurses’ roles in preventing unplanned pregnancy among rural adolescents. Conclusions: The review identified five major risk factors influencing unplanned pregnancy among rural adolescents, namely educational level, use of contraceptives, peer influence, quality of sexuality education, and availability of youth-friendly SRH services. Roles of nurses in providing quality healthcare services to rural adolescents for the prevention and management of unplanned pregnancy were discussed.