Prevalence and health system predictors of pregnancy among adolescents in Rivercess County, Liberia

Abstract

Background: Adolescents are becoming pregnant between 10 and 19 years of age. There are 16 million teenage mothers worldwide who give birth every year, accounting for 11% of all births. An estimated 1 in 16 African women experience unintended pregnancy, leading to significant psychosocial consequences, morbidity and mortality. It is estimated that 45% of child births in SSA occur unintentionally among adolescents aged 15-19, while half of unsafe abortions occur among women under 25 years old.

Method: The study employed cross-sectional descriptive analytical design. Total of 425 adolescents recruited from the community consenting /assenting participation. Data were obtained using interview questionnaires, FGD and KII. Descriptive and inferential statistics done using SPSS version 24.0 and Chi-square test was performed at 95% confidence intervals and 0.05 error of precision. Ethical approval obtained from the Liberia Research Ethical Review Board.

Result: Health system factors that were associated with adolescent pregnancy included distance (p=0.001), main source of information (p=0.001), availability of educational materials (0.003), adequacy of services (0.042), availability of adolescent services (p=0.007), ease of accessibility of services (p=0.001), sufficiency of outreach programs (p=0.001) and Health facilities offering variety of contraceptive options for adolescents (p=0.005).

Conclusion: The study found that 30% of adolescents had experienced pregnancy. The study recommends scaled up of comprehensive age specific sex education in schools and provision of SRH services through mobile clinics/ outreach with flexible service delivery times and peer education to allow adolescents to utilize the services.