Environmental Factors Predicting Unintended Pregnancies Among In-School Female Adolescents in Rural Communities in South-South Nigeria

Abstract

Unintended Pregnancy is generally considered to be a high-risk event amongst adolescents due to various factors. Understanding factors predicting unintended pregnancies among in-school female adolescents can provide mechanisms for preventing unintended pregnancies and also providing youth friendly centers. In Nigeria, as a whole, unintended pregnancy among adolescents is a daunting problem. Studies have shown the prevalence of unintended pregnancy among adolescents to be 23% in the west, 36% in the southwest and 26% in the North central part of the country. It also ranges from 17% in Edo state and 6.2% in the other Niger Delta states to 49% in Abia State. The main Objective of this study is to investigate the Environmental factors predicting unintended pregnancies among in-school female adolescents in South-South Nigeria. A cross-sectional study which employed the use of quantitative methods of data collection was conducted among 239 in-school female adolescents who were selected through simple random sampling. Data was collected using a semi-structured validated questionnaire with Cronbach’s Alpha that ranged from 0.705 to 0.811. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (logistic regression, correlation and chi-square). The result showed that those with low peer influence as compared with high peer influence were 0.92 times less likely to have unintended pregnancy (Odds ratio; 0.92; CI: 0.78-1.08; p=0.27). Low media influence as compared with those with high media influence had an odds of 1.01 likelihood of unintended pregnancy (Odds ratio=1.01; CI: 0.87-1.17;p=0.007), those with low parent support as compared with those with high parent support were 0.96 times less likely to have unintended pregnancy (Odds ratio=0.96; CI: 0.81-1.14, p=0.66). The environmental factor predictor was media influence while peer influence and parents’ support were not good environmental predictors of unintended pregnancy. Re-engineering media sources are needed to produce more positive and protective behaviours towards adolescent sexuality.

Factors influencing unintended pregnancy and abortion among unmarried young people in Nigeria: a scoping review

“…The 22 studies spanned five of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, with distribution as follows: South-West 30.4% ( n = 7) [ 46 , 47 , 52 , 53 , 55 , 57 ]. South-South 30.4% ( n = 7) [ 26 , 38 – 40 , 42 , 44 , 48 ]. South-East 13% ( n = 3) [ 31 , 45 , 56 ].…”

“…The subsequent decade, 2000-2009, contributed five studies (22.7%) to the body of literature [31,[38][39][40][41]. The majority of studies 10 (45.6%) emerged in the period 2010-2019 [42,44,[48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56]. Subsequently, six studies 6 (27.3%) were conducted from 2020 onwards [26,[43][44][45][46][47].…”

“…The majority of studies 10 (45.6%) emerged in the period 2010-2019 [42,44,[48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56]. Subsequently, six studies 6 (27.3%) were conducted from 2020 onwards [26,[43][44][45][46][47].…”

“…In South-South Nigeria, the studies were conducted in four of the six states in the region: Edo 42.8% (n = 3) [38,39,44], Rivers 28.5% (n = 2) [26,42], and each in Akwa Ibom 14.2%(n = 1) [ [40] and Bayelsa 14.2% (n = 1) [48]. The two studies in Southeast Nigeria were in Anambra State 50% (n = 1) [31], and in Imo State 50% (n = 1) [56].…”

“…Age and sex of household head 4.5 [51] Parental influence 4.5 [39] Peer influence 4.5 [44] Media influence 9.1 [43,44] Family type 4.5 [50] Source of sponsorship 4.5 [40] Marital status 13.6 [46,48,51] Child abuse/neglect 9.1 [50,55] Age of sexual partner 4.5 [39] Access to SRH services Early sexual debut 4.5 [45] Ignorance of contraceptives 9.1 [38,56] Pregnancy rejection by partner 4.5 [31,45] Interpersonal level Paternity doubt 9.1 [42,56] Child spacing 4.5 [42] Parental influence 1 [3.6 [26, 40, 56] Marital status 13.6 [40,42,46]…”