Prevalence and factors associated with repeat teenage pregnancy among adolescents attending ANC at Kasangati Health Center IV

Abstract

Introduction: Repeat teenage pregnancy poses immense obstetrical risks to the woman. Not enough emphasis has been placed on these repeat teenage pregnancies despite their higher morbidity and mortality risk compared to first time teenage pregnancies. The study sought to determine the prevalence and factors associated with repeat teenage pregnancy at Kasangati Health Centre IV. Methods: 250 teenage mothers were enrolled at Kasangati Health Centre IV ante-natal clinic. These were interviewed using a questionnaire. All the data were entered into Epi Data and exported to STATA for analysis.The prevalence of teenage pregnancies was computed as a proportion expressed as a percentage. Bivariate analysis was done using Chi squares to identify factors associated with repeat teenage pregnancy. Logistic regression was done to establish the factors independently associated with repeat pregnancy. Findings: The prevalence of repeat pregnancy among teenagers was 19.6%.Teenagers with a repeat pregnancy were more willing to start contraception after delivery compared to teenagers with a first-time pregnancy (AOR=4.768 95%CI=1.614-14.091).Married teenagers were more likely to have a repeat pregnancy compared to their unmarried counterparts. Teenagers who had been married for a year or more were more likely to have repeat pregnancies compared to those married for less than a year (AOR 11.118 95%CI=3.878-31.874 p=<0.001). Teenagers with a repeat pregnancy were more likely to have used contraceptive methods before compared to teenagers with a first-time pregnancy (AOR=<0.001 95%CI 1.910-9.533)

Conclusion and Recommendation: There is a high burden of repeat teenage pregnancies and most are due to early marriages. The fact that teenagers with a repeat pregnancy were more likely to have used contraception shows a lack of sustained contraceptive use.