Prevalence of Adolescent Pregnancy and Associated Factors among High School and Preparatory Students in Arbaminch Town, South Ethiopia.

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescent pregnancy has long been a worldwide social, economic and educational concern for the developed, developing and underdeveloped countries. Many countries continue to experience high incidence of teenage pregnancy despite the intervention strategies that have been put in place. Pregnancy at an early age is risky for the mother and the baby. Studies on adolescent sexuality and pregnancy are very limited in our country, yet there are no studies conducted on adolescent pregnancy and its contributing factors in Arbaminch town. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy and associated factors among high school and preparatory students in Arbaminch town. Methodology: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 20- 30, 2014. After stratifying schools in to high school and preparatory, four out of eight schools were selected by SRS and a total of 578 students were drawn by systematic sampling technique. Data was collected by trained data collectors using a pre tested, self administered structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Bivariate logistic regression was done to see the crude effects of each independent variable. Variables with p-value <0.25 on bivariate regression were added in to multivariate logistic regression model with ‘back-ward stepwise method’ to identify independently associated factors. P value < 0.05 was considered for statistical significance and AOR was used to see the risk of getting pregnant among categories. Results: from the total 560 respondents completed the questionnaire, 124(22.1%) were sexually active and 43(7.7%) reported ever experience of pregnancy. Being 11th and 12th grade student, having peers use alcohol, Khat or cigarette, having peers ever married or pregnant were factors significantly associated with higher likelihood of adolescent pregnancy, while they know time to take emergency contraceptives, living with both biological parents and good parent-daughter communication were factors significantly associated with lower likelihood of adolescent pregnancy in this study. Conclusion and recommendation: Significant numbers of adolescent female students were at risk of facing the challenges of teenage pregnancy in the study area. Concerned public and private bodies should increase their efforts to avert the problem.