A Study to Assess Contributing Factors of Teenage Pregnancy in Sunsari District of Nepal

Laxmi Gautam; Anup Gupta; Rabina Khadka; Gobind Prasad Pant

Laxmi Gautam Department of Public Health, Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3926-8912
Anup Gupta Department of Public Health, Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Rabina Khadka Department of Public Health, Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Gobind Prasad Pant Department of Public Health, Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Keywords: Contributing Factor, Teenage Pregnancy, Early Marriage

Abstract

Background: Early child bearing is a widely observed phenomenon in Nepal. However, little information is available in regard to its contributing factors. Teenage pregnancy is major contributing factor of maternal and child health and a challenging issue of public in developed and developing countries. This study explores the contributing factors of teenage pregnancy and knowledge about its consequences. Methodology: A descriptive study was conducted to find out contributing factors of teenage pregnancy among 102 pregnant teenagers at selected health facilities of Sunsari district. Pregnant teenagers visiting health facilities for antenatal check-up during study period were interviewed using pre-designed questionnaire. Data was managed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics and chi square test were used. Result: The mean age of teenage pregnancy was 18Â±1.04 years and age at marriage 16.69Â±1.09 years. Majority were Muslim, 86.3% were homemaker, 31.4% had positive history of teenage pregnancy in family either-side, 38.2% had married at an age of 17 years, 31.4% were pregnant with their first child. Inadequate knowledge about teenage pregnancy, cultural acceptance, illiteracy, lack of knowledge on consequence of teenage pregnancy, difficulty to get information and access on family planning methods were major contributing factors and school dropout was reported as consequences of teenage pregnancy. Ethnicity, religion and education were associated with knowledge of teenage pregnancy. Conclusion: Knowledge about the risk and drawbacks of early marriage and early pregnancy should be increased not only among teenage girls but also to their parents and in-laws to change the attitude and practice of early marriage and teenage pregnancy.

How to cite this article:

Gautam L, Gupta A, Khadka R, Pant GP. A Study to Assess Contributing Factors of Teenage Pregnancy in Sunsari District of Nepal. Ind J Youth Adol Health 2020; 7(2): 5-11.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2349.2880.202007

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