摘要
<strong>Introduction:</strong> Teenage pregnancy is a common public health problem with global estimates of 16 million teenage births yearly. It is one of the major causes of maternal and neonatal mortality worldwide with the majority of the cases seen in the low and middle-income countries. Cameroon has recorded the highest fertility rate among teenagers in the entire Central African region as of 2017. Notably, there are limited data available on assessing the awareness and prevention of teenage pregnancies among secondary and high school students in Cameroon. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the prevalence and associated factors of teenage pregnancy among secondary and high school students in the Tiko Health District, South West Region, Cameroon. <strong>Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted whereby data was collected using self-administered questionnaires from 250 systematically sampled participants from five teaching institutions in the Tiko Health District. Data was analysed using the EPI Info software, version 7.0. The study was carried out from the 15th November 2018 to the 20th of May 2019. <strong>Results:</strong> We had a total of 250 participants. The prevalence of teenage pregnancy was 5.20% (95% CI 3.34 - 9.1). A total of 47.20% (95% CI: 37.56 - 53.6) of participants were sexually active. Having multiple partners was a major risk factor for teenage pregnancy (AOR: 3.2, 95%CI: 1.75 - 4.03, P-value: 0.03). After adjusting for confounders educational level was a risk factor for the awareness of teenage pregnancy (AOR: 0.54, 95%CI: 0.30 - 0.92, P-value: 0.04). Poor communication skills, social shyness, and lack of knowledge were potential barriers to contraceptive use. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Having multiple sexual partners was a risk factor to the prevalence of teenage pregnancy. The majority of adolescents had considerate ideas of teenage pregnancy, its prevention, and its consequences. However, a good number of them lack adequate knowledge of a comprehensive sexuality education. Thus, measures have to be put in place to provide better sex education to adolescents.
<strong>Introduction:</strong> Teenage pregnancy is a common public health problem with global estimates of 16 million teenage births yearly. It is one of the major causes of maternal and neonatal mortality worldwide with the majority of the cases seen in the low and middle-income countries. Cameroon has recorded the highest fertility rate among teenagers in the entire Central African region as of 2017. Notably, there are limited data available on assessing the awareness and prevention of teenage pregnancies among secondary and high school students in Cameroon. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the prevalence and associated factors of teenage pregnancy among secondary and high school students in the Tiko Health District, South West Region, Cameroon. <strong>Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted whereby data was collected using self-administered questionnaires from 250 systematically sampled participants from five teaching institutions in the Tiko Health District. Data was analysed using the EPI Info software, version 7.0. The study was carried out from the 15th November 2018 to the 20th of May 2019. <strong>Results:</strong> We had a total of 250 participants. The prevalence of teenage pregnancy was 5.20% (95% CI 3.34 - 9.1). A total of 47.20% (95% CI: 37.56 - 53.6) of participants were sexually active. Having multiple partners was a major risk factor for teenage pregnancy (AOR: 3.2, 95%CI: 1.75 - 4.03, P-value: 0.03). After adjusting for confounders educational level was a risk factor for the awareness of teenage pregnancy (AOR: 0.54, 95%CI: 0.30 - 0.92, P-value: 0.04). Poor communication skills, social shyness, and lack of knowledge were potential barriers to contraceptive use. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Having multiple sexual partners was a risk factor to the prevalence of teenage pregnancy. The majority of adolescents had considerate ideas of teenage pregnancy, its prevention, and its consequences. However, a good number of them lack adequate knowledge of a comprehensive sexuality education. Thus, measures have to be put in place to provide better sex education to adolescents.
作者
Ebanja Silva Elonge Gabriel
Gregory Edie Halle-Ekane
Mohamed Isah
Frankline Sevidzem Wirsiy
Max Langmia Nambeke Lebaga
Ndzeshang Dympna Siysila
Catherine Binye Musi
Ngong Clovis Chia
Mbome Njie Victor
Ebanja Silva Elonge Gabriel;Gregory Edie Halle-Ekane;Mohamed Isah;Frankline Sevidzem Wirsiy;Max Langmia Nambeke Lebaga;Ndzeshang Dympna Siysila;Catherine Binye Musi;Ngong Clovis Chia;Mbome Njie Victor(Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon;Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon;Health Organisation Welfare, Yaounde, Cameroon;STEM Higher Institute of Health and Business, Douala, Cameroon;School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Limbe Regional Hospital, Limbe, Cameroon;Deprtment of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon)
