Prevalence and Associated Factors of Teenage Pregnancy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Multilevel Modified Poisson Regression Analysis

Abstract

In sub-Saharan African countries, teenage pregnancy received less attention and weak policy responses, and the pooled prevalence of teenage pregnancy is not yet studied. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence and determinants of teenage pregnancy in sub-Saharan African countries. A total weighted sample of 96,185 teenage girls were included in the study. A multilevel modified poison regression analysis model was fitted to identify factors associated with teenage pregnancy. Finally, the Adjusted Prevalence Odds Ratio (APOR) with its 95% confidence interval was reported. Statistical significance was declared at p -value <.05. The overall pooled prevalence of teenage pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa was 21.36% (95% CI: 21.10, 21.62%). Being 18 to 19 years (APOR = 1.70, 95% CI [1.64, 1.77]), teenager’s mother is working (APOR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.13), married adolescents (APOR = 5.54, 95% CI [5.01, 6.12]), media exposure (APOR = 0.96, 95% CI [0.94, 0.99]), middle and high wealth index (APOR = 0.96, 95% CI [0.93, 0.98]), and (APOR = 0.79, 95% CI [0.75, 0.83]), low-middle-income countries (APOR = 0.79, 95% CI [0.63, 0.92]), upper-middle-income (APOR = 0.61, 95% CI [0.41, 0.80]) and the Central African region (APOR = 1.46, 95% CI [1.29, 1.64]) were the factors found to be associated with teenage pregnancy. Teenage pregnancy in SSA was unacceptably high. Age, adolescent marital status, teenager’s mother’s working status, media exposure, wealth index, countries’ income, and regions of SSA had a significant association with teenage pregnancy. Therefore, addressing geographical disparities and socio-economic inequalities help to reduce teenage pregnancy.