Exploring Factors Influencing Perinatal Outcomes among Adolescent Pregnancies in Northern Ghana-The Case of Kassena-Nankana Municipality in the Upper East Region

Abstract

Introduction: It is estimated that about 11% of births worldwide are to adolescents aged 15-19 years, and more than 90% of these births occur in low and middle-income countries with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as perinatal mortality. Aims and Objectives: The purpose of the study was to explore the factors that influence perinatal outcomes in adolescent pregnancies. Materials and Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study with 200 adolescent mothers who delivered. Multistage sampling method was used to select the facilities. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the participants at the facilities. The data were analysed using STATA version 11 software programme. Results: The majority of the participants (71%) were between 18-19 years. Perinatal mortality rate was 30 per 1000 births. The following were found to be associated with high perinatal mortality rate: gestational age less than 37 weeks, harmful traditional practices, mothers who never used family planning service. Also, mothers who consumed alcohol had a highest odds of 5.9 perinatal mortality compared to other predictors. The results also showed that women living in a rural area {OR=0.41, 95%CI (0.1-2.3)} and those delivering at home {OR=3.91, 95%CI (0.6-22.5} were more likely to experience adverse perinatal outcomes. Finally, perinatal mortality rate (33 per 1000 births) among the mothers aged between 15 and 17 years appears high compared to between 18 and 19 years category (28 per 1000 births). Conclusion: The results reported in this study indicate that mothers who engaged in harmful traditional practices, had less than 37weeks gestation, used alcohol during pregnancy and never used family planning services prior to their pregnancies had increased odds of experiencing perinatal mortality. The combined effect of these factors needs to be taken into account when counseling women about healthy behaviour before and during pregnancy at health facilities.