The influence of cultural practices and socioeconomic factors on teenage pregnancy across selected primary health care centers in Akinyele local government area, Ibadan, Nigeria

Agness Shimilimo; Makelele M. Amos; Solomon T. Million; Chandipwisa Courage; Oladukun Adesina

doi:10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20251556

Authors

Agness Shimilimo Reproductive Health Sciences, Pan African University Life and Earth Science Institute (PAULESI), Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Makelele M. Amos Reproductive Health Sciences, Pan African University Life and Earth Science Institute (PAULESI), Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Solomon T. Million Reproductive Health Sciences, Pan African University Life and Earth Science Institute (PAULESI), Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Chandipwisa Courage Vaccine Production and Quality Control, Pan African University Life and Earth Science Institute (PAULESI), Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Oladukun Adesina Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan/University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20251556

Keywords:

Teenage pregnancy, Cultural practices, Socio-economic factors

Abstract

Background: Teenage pregnancy is a significant contributor to maternal and child mortality and a driver of the cycle of ill health and poverty, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, around 21 million girls aged 15-19 and 2 million under 14 give birth annually, with 95% of these births occurring in developing countries. In Nigeria, the burden of teenage pregnancy is exacerbated by cultural practices, socioeconomic challenges, and limited access to education and reproductive health services.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted across selected primary health care (PHC) centers in Akinyele local government area (LGA), Ibadan, Nigeria. Twelve PHCs were randomly selected, one from each ward. A multi-stage sampling method was used to select teenage antenatal attendees. A sampling frame was developed from antenatal records, and eligible participants were chosen using computer-generated random numbers. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire with both open- and close-ended questions from July to August 2024. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 27.0, with significance set at p≤0.05.

Results: Peer pressure (58.5%) and family pressure (46.5%) were the most reported causes of teenage pregnancy. Cultural barriers around sex education and contraception were reported by 80.3% of participants, with only 9.4% affirming open dialogue. Financial hardship and lack of educational opportunities were also cited by 78.7% as key contributing factors. The mean age of respondents was 17.5 years (SD±1.57).

Conclusions: Cultural and socioeconomic factors significantly influence teenage pregnancy, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions in education, family engagement, and reproductive health communication.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Ochen AM, Chi PC, Lawoko S. Predictors of teenage pregnancy among girls aged 13-19 years in Uganda: a community based case-control study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2019;19(1):211. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2347-y

Terefe B. The prevalence of teenage pregnancy and early motherhood and its associated factors among late adolescent (15-19) years girls in the Gambia: based on 2019/20 Gambian demographic and health survey data. BMC public health. 2022;22(1):1767. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14167-9

Adolescent health (World Health Organization). www.who.int. Available at: https://www.who.int/health-topics/adolescent-health/causes-of-adolescent-deaths#tab=tab_1. Accessed on 9 April 2025.

Ali A, Khaliq A, Lokeesan L, MeheralI S, Lassi ZS. Prevalence and predictors of teenage pregnancy in Pakistan: a trend analysis from Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey datasets from 1990 to 2018. Int health. 2022;14(2):176-82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihab025

Mehboob R, Gilani SA, Khalid S, Hassan A, Alwazzan A. Maternal mortality ratio in low income developing countries. Global Women’s Health. 2021;10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95258

Case study on girls who have dropped out of school due to pregnancy and factors facilitating and/or preventing their re-entry into school after delivery a research report case study on girls who have dropped out of school due to pregnancy and factors facilitating and/or preventing their re-entry into school after delivery a research report. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/ghana/media/1361/file/un263291.pdf. Accessed on 9 April 2025.

Morgan AK, Agyemang S, Dogbey E, Arimiyaw AW, Owusu AF. We were girls but suddenly became mothers: Evaluating the effects of teenage motherhood on girl’s educational attainment in the Volta Region. Cogent Social Sci. 2022;8(1):2036312.

Effendi DE, Handayani L, Nugroho AP, Hariastuti I. Adolescent pregnancy prevention in rural Indonesia: a participatory action research. Rural Remote Health. 2021;21(4):1-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22605/RRH6639

Ayanaw HY, Yalew A, Azale BT. Prevalence and Factors Associated with Teenage Pregnancy, Northeast Ethiopia, 2017: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Pregnancy. 2018;2018:1-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/1714527

Sano Y, Mammen S, Houghten M. Well-Being and Stability among Low-income Families: A 10-Year Review of Research. J Fam Econ Issues 2020;42(1):107-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-020-09715-7

Yakubu I, Salisu WJ. Determinants of adolescent pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. Reproductive health. 2018;15:1-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-018-0460-4

Bolarinwa OA, Tessema ZT, Frimpong JB, Babalola TO, Ahinkorah BO, Seidu AA. Spatial distribution and factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in Nigeria: a multi-level analysis. Arch Public Health. 2022;80(1):43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-022-00789-3

Saleh MA. Outcomes of Teenage Pregnancy at Benghazi Medical Center 2019-2020. Int J Sci Academic Res. 2022;3(3):358-602.

Usman SO, Olowoyeye EU, Omisakin IN, Adegbamigbe TC, Olubayo GP, Ipinmoye. Factors associated with teenage pregnancy in southwest Nigeria. East Afr Med J. 2018;95(9):1876-88.

Perper K, Peterson K, Manlove J. Diploma attainment among teen mothers (Child Trends Fact Sheet). Washington DC: Child Trends. 2010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/e507972010-001

Shaw M, Lawlor DA, Najman JM. Teenage children of teenage mothers: Psychological, behavioural and health outcomes from an Australian prospective longitudinal study. Social Sci Med. 2006;62(10):2526-39. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.10.007

Okoli CI, Hajizadeh M, Rahman MM, Velayutham E, Khanam R. Socioeconomic inequalities in teenage pregnancy in Nigeria: evidence from Demographic Health Survey. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):1729. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14146-0

Akombi-Inyang BJ, Woolley E, Iheanacho CO, Bayaraa K, Ghimire PR. Regional trends and socioeconomic predictors of adolescent pregnancy in Nigeria: a nationwide study. Int J Environ Res Public Heal. 2022;19(13):8222. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19138222

Wylie H. Fast Facts: 10 facts illustrating why we must #EndChildMarriage. Unicef.org. 2019. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/eca/press-releases/fast-facts-10-facts-illustrating-why-we-must-endchildmarriage. Accessed on 9 April 2025.

Morgan AK, Agyemang S, Dogbey E, Arimiyaw AW, Owusu AFS. “We were girls but suddenly became mothers”: Evaluating the effects of teenage motherhood on girl’s educational attainment in the Volta Region. Serpa S, editor. Cogent Social Sci. 2022;8(1):1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2022.2036312

Erfina E, Widyawati W, McKenna L, Reisenhofer S, Ismail D. Adolescent mothers’ experiences of the transition to motherhood: An integrative review. Int J Nursing Sci. 2019;6(2):221–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2019.03.013

Chandra-Mouli V, Akwara E. Improving access to and use of contraception by adolescents: What progress has been made, what lessons have been learned, and what are the implications for action? Best Pract Res Clin Obstetr Gynaecol. 2020;66(1):107-18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2020.04.003

Luyckx VA, Al-Aly Z, Bello AK, Bellorin-Font E, Carlini RG, Fabian J, et al. Sustainable development goals relevant to kidney health: an update on progress. Nature Reviews Nephrology. 2021 Jan; 17(1):15-32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-020-00363-6

Arowolo GA. Preventing and Eliminating Child Marriage in Africa: The Perspectives from Nigeria. JL Pol'y Globalization. 2022;119:27.

Itumoh EM. In Nigeria, the child marriage problem needs to be cut off at the root. World Bank. 2020, 26. Available at: https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/youth-transforming-africa/nigeria-child-marriage-problem-needs-be-cut-root. Accessed on 9 April 2025.

Akanbi MA, Ope BW, Adeloye DO, Amoo EO, Iruonagbe TC, Omojola O. Infuence of socioeconomic factors on prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Nigeria. Afr J Reprod Health. 2021;25(5s):138-46.

Ayodeji J, Njoku EO, Odunola B. Factors associate with teenage pregnancy and childbearing in Nigeria, 2013. Available at: https://uaps2015.popconf.org/papers/151306. Accessed on 9 April 2025.

Onukwugha FI, Magadi MA, Sarki AM, Smith L. Trends in and predictors of pregnancy termination among 15-24-year-old women in Nigeria: a multi-level analysis of demographic and health surveys 2003-2018. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020;20(1):1-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03164-8

Edoka SEE, Akinboye D, Akinoye JI. Factors predisposing to teenage pregnancy among female adolescents in Isoko south local government area, Delta State Nigeria. Texila Int J Public Health. 2020;8(2):1-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21522/TIJPH.2013.08.02.Art036

Mekonen EG. Pooled prevalence and associated factors of teenage pregnancy among women aged 15 to 19 years in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from 2019 to 2022 demographic and health survey data. Contracept Reprod Med. 2024;9(1):26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40834-024-00289-5

Adeneye A, Erinosho O, Adeneye A, Obasi C. Factors associated with unplanned pregnancy among unmarried adolescents in selected communities of Ogun State, Nigeria. Arch Prevent Med. 2017;2(1):001-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17352/apm.000005

Speizer IS, Guilkey D, Calhoun LM, Corroon M, O’Hara R. Examination of youth sexual and reproductive health transitions in Nigeria and Kenya using longitudinal data. BMC Public Health. 2017;17(1):142. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4039-8

Adebowale A, Obembe T, Bamgboye E. Relationship between household wealth and childhood immunization in core-North Nigeria. Afr Health Sci. 2019;19(1):1582. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i1.33

Boateng AA, Botchwey COA, Adatorvor BA, Baidoo MA, Boakye DS, Boateng R. A phenomenological study on recurrent teenage pregnancies in effutu municipality-Ghana. the experiences of teenage mothers. BMC Publ Health. 2023;23(1):218. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15074-3

Bastien S, Kajula L, Muhwezi W. A review of studies of parent-child communication about sexuality and HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Reproduct Health. 2011;8:25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-4755-8-25