Correlates of teenage pregnancy among female secondary school students in Dire Dawa City, East Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Although teenage pregnancy causes a considerable challenge to young women, studies among sexually active teenagers are not widely available. Studies have included both sexually active and not active teenagers in assessing teenage pregnancy which underestimated the actual prevalence. This study aims to determine the prevalence and related factors of teenage pregnancy among teenage girls in dire dawa administrative town, East Ethiopia. Methodology: Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 677 identified sexually active students from selected schools. Pre-test was conducted on 35 female teenagers. One stage cluster sampling technique was used to recruit study participants. Data was entered into EpiData-version 3.1 and exported to STATA version 16 for analysis. Modified Poisson regression was done to assess the association between outcome and predictor variables. Result: Out of the total sexually active females 135 (19.9%) were pregnant. Teenage pregnancy was higher among teenagers in the 18-19 (APR=3.21, 95% CI: 2.10-5.18) age group, living with either of their biological parents (APR=1.9, 95% CI: 1.29-2.69) and neither of the biological parents (APR=2.7 95% CI: 1.39-3.34), teenagers who had sex due to peer pressure (APR=2.01, 95% CI: 1.51- 2.86) and not knowing the ovation time in the menstrual cycle (APR=1.6, 95% CI: 1.07-2.28). Teenage pregnancy was lower among teens who have good parent-daughter interaction (APR=0.6, 95% CI: 0.50- 0.91). Conclusion: Nearly one-fifth of teenagers had experienced teenage pregnancy. Teenage pregnancy is higher amongst the age group of 18-19, living with either or neither of the parents, having sex due to peer pressure, not knowing the ovulation time in the menstrual cycle, and lower among teens with good parent-daughter interaction. Adolescent sexual and reproductive health education including safe sex practice has to be acknowledged in school and life skill training to enhance self-esteem among teens is essential to reduce teenage pregnancy.