Study in Cameroon Schools of Family Determinants of Early Pregnancies

Abstract

Introduction: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), adolescence is the period of growth between 10 and 19 years of age. Complications from pregnancy are the second leading cause of death for adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 worldwide. Objective: In order to reduce the phenomenon of early pregnancy, we set out to study the family determinants of early sexuality and its corollary of pregnancy among adolescent girls in secondary schools in the Douala 3rd district in Cameroon. Methodology: We conducted an analytical case-control study from November 08, 2018, to June 26 (7months) 2019 in ten secondary establishments in the Douala 3rd district. Included in the study were all adolescent girls, students in one of the secondary schools in the said district who agreed to participate in the study. Data analysis was done using SPSS 20.0 software. The significance threshold was set at p <0.05. Results: A total of 445 adolescent girls were selected, including 89 cases and 356 controls. In the uni-variate analysis, the family factors associated with the occurrence of teenage pregnancies were: living outside the house and parental guidance (aOR= 1.68; CI=1.03-2.76), having a tutor living with a partner (aOR=2.14; CI=1.10-4.18) and single (aOR=2.89; CI=1.70-4.93), the tuition fees covered by someone other than parents (aOR = 1.73; CI=1.01-2.96), having a mother, sister or both having conceived during adolescence (OR=1.64; CI=1.01 -2.65, aOR=2.01; CI=1.20-3.37, aOR=2.29; IC=1.17-4.49). Conclusion: The adolescent girl who is not guided or assisted by her parents is highly exposed to early sexuality and its corollary of early pregnancy.