Estimating the Trends and Factors Associated with Teenage Pregnancy in Nigeria.

Abstract:

Teenage pregnancy remains a persistent public health and socio-economic concern in Nigeria, with significant variation across socio-demographic groups. This study examined trends and determinants of teenage pregnancy between 2013 and 2018, using nationally representative data. Data were drawn from the 2013 and 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys, comprising 16,328 female adolescents aged 15–19 years. Teenage pregnancy was defined as having ever been pregnant, including those currently pregnant, who had given birth, or who had terminated a pregnancy. Weighted descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and multivariable logistic regression were employed to examine changes in prevalence and socio-demographic predictors. Analyses accounted for the complex survey design. The overall prevalence of teenage pregnancy declined from 15.6% in 2013 to 13.2% in 2018 (absolute reduction: 2.4 percentage points). Higher prevalence was consistently observed among older adolescents (18–19 years), those currently or formerly married, with no or primary education, from poorer households, residing in rural areas, and living in the North-West and North-East regions. Adjusted odds of teenage pregnancy were markedly higher among currently married adolescents, those aged 19 years, and those with no education (reference group). Adolescents with secondary or higher education, those from higher wealth quintiles, and those residing in urban areas had significantly lower odds. Notably, contraceptive users had higher adjusted odds of pregnancy in both years, suggesting possible post-pregnancy uptake, inconsistent use, and misreporting. While teenage pregnancy in Nigeria declined modestly between 2013 and 2018, substantial socio-demographic disparities persist, with the highest burden among poor, rural, less-educated, and married adolescents, especially in northern regions. Interventions should prioritise delaying marriage, improving girls’ education, expanding youth-friendly reproductive health services, and addressing barriers to effective contraceptive use.