Prevalence and factors associated with early childbearing in Sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from demographic and health surveys of 31 countries
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Date
2023-08-14
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer
Abstract
Background Early childbearing remains a public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) because it has
substantial implications for women’s and children’s health and population control. However, little is known about
recent changes in early childbearing in the region following the implementation of the Family Planning 2020 initiative
(FP2020) national-level interventions. Thus, this study examined factors associated with early childbearing among
women in SSA.
Methods The study used data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 31 countries in
sub-Saharan Africa between 2010 and 2021. The analysis included a pooled sample of 54,671 parous young women
aged 20–24 years. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was used to examine the association between
early childbearing and individual and household-level factors. All analyses were weighted to account for complex
survey design.
Results The study shows that the mean prevalence of early childbearing was high in SSA at 39% (95% CI: 35, 43).
Chad had the highest prevalence of early childbearing, 62% (95% CI: 60, 64) while Rwanda had the lowest prevalence
of 13% (95% CI: 11, 15). Completing secondary school (aOR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.62) or attaining tertiary level
education (aOR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.22, 0.45), first sexual debut in the age range 15–24 years (aOR = 0.15; 95% CI: 0.14,
0.16) and desire for a small family size (aOR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.69) were associated with reduced odds of early
childbearing among young women in SSA.
Conclusion The study has established that the prevalence of early childbearing is high in SSA. Level of education,
age at first sexual debut, household size, and desired family size are associated with early childbearing in SSA.
Governments of SSA countries should enhance sexual and reproductive health interventions to change reproductive
behaviour, particularly in adolescents and young women.
Description
Journal article
Keywords
Women, Adolescent health, Early childbearing, Reproductive health, Sub-Saharan Africa
Citation
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02581-z