TY - JOUR
T1 - Sociocultural factors contributing to teenage pregnancy in Zomba district, Malawi
AU - Kaphagawani, Nanzen Caroline
AU - Kalipeni, Ezekiel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2017/6/3
Y1 - 2017/6/3
N2 - This study explores sociocultural and other risk factors associated with unplanned teenage pregnancy in Zomba district of Malawi. Data were obtained from 505 participants under the age of 20 years using a questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews held at five antenatal clinics. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, frequency tables and chi-square analysis which allowed comparative understanding of the sociocultural risk factors for planned and unplanned teenage pregnancy in Zomba district. The findings revealed that teenage pregnancy is a major health and social problem. Over 76% of the teenage respondents in the study had experienced unplanned pregnancy. Among the prominent factors that stood out in the analysis for this high rate of teenage pregnancy were early sex and marriage, low contraceptive use, low educational levels, low socio-economic status, lack of knowledge of reproductive and sexual health, gender inequity, and physical/sexual violence. The consequences on teenage mothers of unplanned pregnancy have been tragic and have compromised their physical, psychological and socioeconomic wellbeing, not just on them but also their families and society at large. The findings point to the need for a multi-sectoral approach to tackle the problem on teenage pregnancy in this district, and likely throughout Malawi.
AB - This study explores sociocultural and other risk factors associated with unplanned teenage pregnancy in Zomba district of Malawi. Data were obtained from 505 participants under the age of 20 years using a questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews held at five antenatal clinics. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, frequency tables and chi-square analysis which allowed comparative understanding of the sociocultural risk factors for planned and unplanned teenage pregnancy in Zomba district. The findings revealed that teenage pregnancy is a major health and social problem. Over 76% of the teenage respondents in the study had experienced unplanned pregnancy. Among the prominent factors that stood out in the analysis for this high rate of teenage pregnancy were early sex and marriage, low contraceptive use, low educational levels, low socio-economic status, lack of knowledge of reproductive and sexual health, gender inequity, and physical/sexual violence. The consequences on teenage mothers of unplanned pregnancy have been tragic and have compromised their physical, psychological and socioeconomic wellbeing, not just on them but also their families and society at large. The findings point to the need for a multi-sectoral approach to tackle the problem on teenage pregnancy in this district, and likely throughout Malawi.
KW - Malawi
KW - Unplanned/unwanted pregnancy
KW - Zomba
KW - sociocultural factors
KW - teenage pregnancy
KW - teenager/adolescent
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84989261644&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84989261644&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17441692.2016.1229354
DO - 10.1080/17441692.2016.1229354
M3 - Article
C2 - 27687242
AN - SCOPUS:84989261644
SN - 1744-1692
VL - 12
SP - 694
EP - 710
JO - Global Public Health
JF - Global Public Health
IS - 6
ER -