FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR UNINTENDED PREGNANCY AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN IBADAN NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE

Abstract

Unintended Pregnancy (UP) among Adolescent Girls (AGs) is a major public health challenge with high morbidity and mortality. These girls are predisposed to socio-economic deprivation, mental health difficulties and drug problems, lower levels of educational attainment and are more likely to be living in deprived neighborhoods. Even though much research has been done in the area of sexuality education and factors responsible for UP among AGs, more needs to be done at the grassroots. Therefore this study was carried out to investigate the factors responsible for UP among AGs in lbadan North Local Government Area (IBNLGA). The study was cross-sectional in design and a three-stage sampling technique was used in selecting 280 Pregnant Adolescent Girls (PAGs) attending Antenatal Clinics (ANCs) in all the government owned health facilities in IBNLGA. The PAGs were purposively selected from ANCs records of nine Primary Hearth Care (PHC) Centres, Adeoyo Maternity Hospital and the University College Hospital, Ibadan. A pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire included knowledge scale assessed in 3 domains: knowledge of Adolescent Pregnancy (AP) using a 26-point scale graded, poor (≤15) and good (>15), knowledge of contraceptive use using an 11-point scale graded poor (≤5) and good (>5) and a 10-point scale graded poor (≤6) and good (>6) to assess knowledge of pregnancy-related health issues before and after delivery. Questions on factors responsible for UP among AGs were also included. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test at p=0.05. Respondents' age was 18.1±1.1 years with 17.5% married. Almost all (98.6%) had ever attended school, 55.7% were students in secondary and tertiary institutions and 83.6% lived with their parents before and 29.2% during pregnancy. About 68% had heard of AP and main sources of information were friends (42.5%), school (32.9%) neighbors (31.4%) and television (26.8%). Knowledge score was 12.1±4.7 with only 28.2% having good knowledge of AP and its associated risks. Some (55.4%) attributed their pregnancy to ignorance and lack of sex education and 49.3% mentioned domestic violence experienced as one of the reasons why they warned to live away from their families thereby exposing them to UP. Respondents were lured into sexual relationship because of financial inducement (31.1%) and gifts (28.2%). Most (79.9%) had heard of contraceptives with 23.9% having good knowledge of contraceptive use. However, 37.9% ever used contraceptive and 6.4% used it regularly before being pregnant. Respondents who had affectionate relationships were twice as likely to get pregnant (OR=2.0: CI=1.1- 3.8). Respondents who were influenced by their peers (OR=0.3: CI=0.10- 0.8) and those who were ignorant and lacked sexuality education (OR = 0.30: CI =0.13- 0.6) were more likely to get pregnant. Many of the respondents were aware that affectionate relationship, peer pressure and lack of sex education were some of the factors responsible for unintended pregnancy. However they did not know that such actions could lead to pregnancy. Adolescent reproductive health education with emphasis on sexuality education should be organized regularly to address the problem.