Factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in Maharashtra, India: a mixed-methods study
Shukla, Shruti (University of Munich)
Castro-Torres, Andrés F (Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics)
Satish, Rucha Vasumati (University of Munich)
Shenderovich, Yulia (Cardiff University)
Abejirinde, Ibukun-Oluwa O. (University of Toronto)
Steinert, Janina Isabel (University of Munich)
Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics

Data:	2023
Resum:	Reducing the adolescent birth rate is paramount in achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals, given that pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of mortality among young women aged 15-19. This study aimed to explore predictors of adolescent pregnancy among girls aged 13-18 years in Maharashtra, India, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a mixed-methods approach, primary data were gathered from two regions in Maharashtra between February and April 2022. Quantitative data from face-to-face interviews with 3049 adolescent girls assessed various household, social, and behavioural factors, as well as the socioeconomic and health impacts of COVID-19. Qualitative data from seven in-depth interviews were analysed thematically. The findings reveal that girls from low socioeconomic backgrounds face a higher likelihood of adolescent pregnancy. Multivariable analysis identified several factors associated with increased risk, including older age, being married, having more sexual partners, and experiencing COVID-19-related economic vulnerability. On the other hand, rural residence, secondary and higher secondary education of the participants, and higher maternal education were associated with a decreased likelihood of adolescent pregnancy. In the sub-sample of 565 partnered girls, partner's emotional abuse also correlated with higher rates of adolescent pregnancy. Thematic analysis of qualitative data identified four potential pathways leading to adolescent pregnancy: economic hardships and early marriage; personal safety, social norms, and early marriage; social expectations; and lack of knowledge on contraceptives. The findings underscore the significance of social position and behavioural factors and the impact of external shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic in predicting adolescent pregnancy in Maharashtra, India.
Drets:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Llengua:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca
Matèria:	Adolescent pregnancy ; COVID-19 ; Inequity ; Social determinants of health ; India
Publicat a:	Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, Vol.31 Núm.1 (2023) , ISSN 2641-0397

Adreça alternativa: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/26410397.2023.2249284
DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2023.2249284
PMID: 37712990

19 p, 1.7 MB

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