When everyone's doing it: The relative effects of geographical context and social determinants of health on teen birth rates.

Geographic disparities in teen birth rates in the U.S. persist, despite overall reductions over the last two decades. Research suggests these disparities might be driven by spatial variations in social determinants of health (SDOH). An alternative view is that "place" or "geographical context" affects teen birth rates so that they would remain uneven across the U.S. even if all SDOH were constant. We use multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) to quantify the relative effects of geographical context, independent of SDOH, on county-level teen birth rates across the U.S. Findings indicate that even if all counties had identical compositions with respect to SDOH, strong geographic disparities in teen birth rates would still persist. Additionally, local parameter estimates show the relationships between several components of SDOH and teen birth rates vary over space in both direction and magnitude, confirming that global regression techniques commonly employed to examine these relationships likely obscure meaningful contextual differences in these relationships. Findings from this analysis suggest that reducing geographic disparities in teen birth rates will require not only ameliorating differences in SDOH across counties but also combating community norms that contribute to high rates of teen birth, particularly in the southern U.S. Further, the results suggest that if geographical context is not incorporated into models of SDOH, the effects of such determinants may be interpreted incorrectly.

Factores sociales y demográficos asociados al embarazo y al embarazo repetido en mujeres adolescentes de Perú / Social and demographic factors associated with pregnancy and repeated pregnancy in adolescent women in Peru

OBJETIVO: Evaluar los factores sociales y demográficos asociados al embarazo y al embarazo repetido en mujeres adolescentes de Perú MÉTODO: Estudio transversal analítico realizado a partir de las encuestas de población ENDES 2009 a 2018 en Perú. Participaron mujeres adolescentes entre 12 y 19 años de edad. Se recogió información de condición de embarazo y características sociales y demográficas. Se aplicó la prueba de χ2 y se calculó la razón de prevalencia ajustada con su intervalo de confianza al 95% usando regresión de Poisson con varianza robusta. RESULTADOS: En el estudio se incluyeron 49 676 mujeres adolescentes. El 12,6% tuvieron un embarazo y el 5,1% tuvieron dos o más embarazos. Se evidenció asociación entre edad, región geográfica, origen étnico, nivel educativo, nivel económico y embarazo adolescente (p < 0,001). Los niveles educativo y económico inferiores presentaron una mayor razón de prevalencia de embarazo adolescente, siendo mayor incluso en situaciones de dos o más embarazos. CONCLUSIONES: En la población de mujeres adolescentes de Perú, el 17,7% estuvieron embarazadas y el 5,1% tuvieron embarazo repetido. Existe asociación entre embarazo adolescente y bajos niveles económico y educativo; esta asociación se incrementa en situaciones de embarazo repetido.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the social and demographic factors associated with pregnancy and repeated pregnancy in adolescent women in Peru. METHOD: Analytical cross-sectional study carried out from the ENDES population surveys 2009 to 2018 in Peru. Adolescent women between 12 and 19 years of age participated. Information on pregnancy status and number of children was collected, as well as social and demographic characteristics. The χ2 test was applied, the adjusted prevalence ratio with its 95% confidence interval was calculated using Poisson regression with robust variance. RESULTS: 49 676 adolescent women were included in the study. The 17.7% had one or more pregnancies and 5.1% two or more pregnancies. The analysis showed an association between geographic region, age, ethnic origin, educational level, economic level and adolescent pregnancy (p < 0.001). The lower levels of educational level and economic level presented a higher prevalence ratio of adolescent pregnancy, being higher even in situations of two or more pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: In the population of adolescent women in Peru, 17.7% were pregnant and 5.1% had repeated pregnancy. Adolescent pregnancy is associated with low economic and educational levels; this association increases in situations of repeated pregnancy.

Breastfeeding Practices among Adolescent Mothers and Associated Factors in Bangladesh (2004-2014).

Optimal breastfeeding practices among mothers have been proven to have health and economic benefits, but evidence on breastfeeding practices among adolescent mothers in Bangladesh is limited. Hence, this study aims to estimate breastfeeding indicators and factors associated with selected feeding practices. The sample included 2554 children aged 0-23 months of adolescent mothers aged 12-19 years from four Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys collected between 2004 and 2014. Breastfeeding indicators were estimated using World Health Organization (WHO) indicators. Selected feeding indicators were examined against potential confounding factors using univariate and multivariate analyses. Only 42.2% of adolescent mothers initiated breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, 53% exclusively breastfed their infants, predominant breastfeeding was 17.3%, and 15.7% bottle-fed their children. Parity (2-3 children), older infants, and adolescent mothers who made postnatal check-up after two days were associated with increased exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates. Adolescent mothers aged 12-18 years and who watched television were less likely to delay breastfeeding initiation within the first hour of birth. Adolescent mothers who delivered at home (adjusted OR = 2.63, 95% CI:1.86, 3.74) and made postnatal check-up after two days (adjusted OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.21, 2.30) were significantly more likely to delay initiation breastfeeding within the first hour of birth. Adolescent mothers living in the Barisal region and who listened to the radio reported increased odds of predominant breastfeeding, and increased odds for bottle-feeding included male infants, infants aged 0-5 months, adolescent mothers who had eight or more antenatal clinic visits, and the highest wealth quintiles. In order for Bangladesh to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 and 3 by 2030, breastfeeding promotion programmes should discourage bottle-feeding among adolescent mothers from the richest households and promote early initiation of breastfeeding especially among adolescent mothers who delivered at home and had a late postnatal check-up after delivery.

Time trends and sociodemographic inequalities in the prevalence of adolescent motherhood in 74 low-income and middle-income countries: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Documenting trends and inequalities in the prevalence of adolescent motherhood across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) is important to support the adolescent sexual and reproductive health target in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We aimed to examine time trends and sociodemographic inequalities in the prevalence of adolescent motherhood in LMICs. METHODS: We analysed data from 747 137 young women (aged 15-19 years) from 74 LMICs, using 254 nationally representative Demographic and Health Surveys done between 1990 and 2018. We estimated the population-weighted prevalence of adolescent motherhood among women aged aged 15-19 years (defined as having had a livebirth or being pregnant at the time of the survey). Trends in the prevalence were calculated at the national level using the average annual rate of change (AARC) in a subset of 61 countries with at least two surveys from different timepoints during the study period. Sociodemographic inequalities (eg, wealth quintile, level of education, and rural or urban residence) in adolescent motherhood were described using the normalised concentration index. FINDINGS: The highest prevalence of adolescent motherhood was observed in sub-Saharan African countries, for example it was 36·00% (95% CI 33·98-38·08) in Mali (which had recent survey data; 2018). Examining AARC, countries such as Nigeria (AARC -1·35%; 1990-2018) and India (-4·62%; 1992-2015) experienced a steady decline in the prevalence of adolescent motherhood during the study period. However, several high-burden countries experienced little change in prevalence over time (-0·60%; Bangladesh, 1993-2014), and 16 countries, such as Cambodia (2·42%; 2000-14) and Philippines (1·59%; 1993-2017), had an increase in the prevalence of adolescent motherhood over time. Sociodemographic inequalities in the prevalence of adolescent motherhood persist in most countries in this study. INTERPRETATION: Many of the countries in this study experienced either a slow rate of reduction or an increase in the prevalence of adolescent motherhood during the study period, and sociodemographic inequalities within countries persist. These results indicate that efforts to reduce adolescent motherhood and the associated health burden need to be improved within many LMICs. These findings can assist policy makers to target the rollout of interventions on the basis of observed geographic and sociodemographic inequalities to reduce adolescent motherhood among the disadvantaged, and accelerate progress towards adolescent sexual and reproductive health targets in the UN SDGs. FUNDING: None.

Adolescent Birth Rates and Rural-Urban Differences by Levels of Deprivation and Health Professional Shortage Areas in the United States, 2017-2018.

Objectives. To examine the differences in adolescent birth rates by deprivation and Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in rural and urban counties of the United States in 2017 and 2018.Methods. We analyzed available data on birth rates for females aged 15 to 19 years in the United States using the restricted-use natality files from the National Center for Health Statistics, American Community Survey 5-year population estimates, and the Area Health Resources Files.Results. Rural counties had an additional 7.8 births per 1000 females aged 15 to 19 years (b = 7.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.13, 8.55) compared with urban counties. Counties with the highest deprivation had an additional 23.1 births per 1000 females aged 15 to 19 years (b = 23.12; 95% CI = 22.30, 23.93), compared with less deprived counties. Rural counties with whole shortage designation had an additional 8.3 births per 1000 females aged 15 to 19 years (b = 8.27; 95% CI = 6.86, 9.67) compared with their urban counterparts.Conclusions. Rural communities across deprivation and HPSA categories showed disproportionately high adolescent birth rates. Future research should examine the extent to which contraceptive access differs among deprived and HPSA-designated rural communities and the impact of policies that may create barriers for rural communities.

Fatores associados à variação espacial da gravidez na adolescência no Brasil, 2014: estudo ecológico de agregados espaciais / Factores asociados a la variación espacial del embarazo en la adolescencia en Brasil, 2014: estudio ecológico de agregados espaciales / Associated factors with spatial variation of adolescent pregnancy in Brazil, 2014: an ecological study of spatial clusters

Objetivo: Identificar determinantes socioeconômicos e de atenção à saúde na variação espacial da gravidez na adolescência, Brasil, 2014. Métodos: Estudo ecológico espacial com municípios como unidades de análise. Utilizou-se regressão linear espacial para verificar associações entre taxa de fecundidade em adolescentes de 15 a 19 anos e variáveis socioeconômicas e de saúde. Resultados: A fecundidade na adolescência associou-se negativamente a maior cobertura da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ß = -0,011 ­ IC95% -0,017;-0,005), número adequado de consultas de pré-natal (ß = -0,122 ­ IC95% -0,224;-0,132) e menor renda familiar média per capita (ß = -0,104 ­ IC95% -0,105;-0,103); e positivamente, ao índice de Gini (ß = 7,031 ­ IC95% 4,793;9,269), baixa renda (ß = 0,127 ­ IC95% 0,108;0,145), maior densidade domiciliar (ß = 6,292 ­ IC95% 5,062;7,522) e baixa escolaridade (ß = 0,260 ­ IC95% 0,224;0,295). Conclusão: Menores acesso a atenção básica e renda associam-se a maior taxa de fecundidade na adolescência. Piores indicadores socioeconômicos e de atenção à saúde associam-se a maior taxa de fecundidade na adolescência.

Objetivo: Identificar determinantes socioeconómicos y de atención a la salud en la variación espacial del embarazo adolescente en Brasil en 2014. Métodos Estudio espacial ecológico con municipios como unidades de análisis. La regresión lineal espacial se utilizó para verificar la asociación entre la tasa de fecundidad adolescente (15-19 años) y variables socioeconómicas y de salud. Resultados: La tasa de fecundidad adolescente se asoció negativamente con mayor cobertura de la Estrategia de Salud Familiar (ß = -0,011 ­ IC95% -0,017;-0,005), número adecuado de consultas prenatales (ß = -0.122 ­ IC95% -0,132;-0,224) e bajo ingreso familiar promedio per cápita (ß = -0,104 ­ IC95% -0,105;-0,103). Esta asociación fue positiva con el índice de Gini (ß = 7,031 ­ IC95% 4,793; 9,269), bajos ingresos (ß = 0,127 ­ IC95% 0,108; 0,145), mayor densidad familiar (ß = 6,292 ­ IC95% 5,062; 7,522) y baja escolaridad (ß = 0,260 ­ IC95% 0,224; 0,295). Conclusión: El menor acceso a la atención primaria y menores ingresos están asociados con una mayor fecundidad en la adolescencia. Los peores indicadores socioeconómicos y de atención a la salud se asocian con una mayor tasa de fecundidad en la adolescencia.

Objective: To identify socioeconomic and health care determinants of spatial variation in adolescent pregnancy in Brazil in 2014. Methods: This was a spatial ecological study having municipalities as units of analysis. Spatial linear regression was used to verify association between the fertility rate in 15-19 year-old women and socioeconomic and health variables. Results: The adolescent fertility rate was negatively associated with higher Family Health Strategy coverage (ß = -0.011 - 95%CI -0.017;-0.005), an adequate number of prenatal consultations (ß = -0.122 - 95%CI -0.132;-0.224) and low average family income per capita (ß = -0.104 - 95%CI -0.105;-0.103). Association was positive in relation to the Gini index (ß = 7.031 - 95%CI 4.793;9.269), low income (ß = 0.127 - 95%CI 0.108;0.145), higher household density (ß = 6.292 - 95%CI 5.062;7.522) and less schooling (ß = 0.260 - 95%CI 0.224;0.295). Conclusion: Reduced access to primary care and lower income are associated with higher adolescent fertility rates. Poorer socioeconomic and health care indicators are associated with higher adolescent fertility rates.

Trends in teenage motherhood in Ecuador: challenges and inequalities.

OBJECTIVES: To describe trends in teenage motherhood (TM), based on the socioeconomic groups teenagers belong to, and factors related to their first experience of heterosexual intercourse (FEHI). We took into consideration women aged 20-24 years, comparing three surveys from 1999, 2004, and 2012. METHODS: We obtained data from the Ecuadorian Demographic and Health Surveys about 4,696 women aged 20-24 years who had given birth as teenagers. Prevalence ratios and their confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated to estimate changes in socioeconomic inequalities and factors related to the FEHI. RESULTS: The prevalence of TM increased from 48% in 1999 to 60% in 2012 among women with complete primary education. The social gradient among socioeconomic groups were sustained. We detected no changes in the socioeconomic inequalities characterizing TM, and in the factors related to the FEHI across the three studies in Ecuador. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic inequalities in TM and disadvantageous circumstances at FEHI remained unchanged for 14 years. Some factors are vital for reducing teenage motherhood in Ecuador: gender-equitable economic development, access to comprehensive-sexual education, contraception, health services, and safe abortion.

Quality assessment in primary health care: Adolescent and Youth Friendly Service, a Mozambican case study.

INTRODUCTION: despite the Mozambican Ministry of Health's efforts to deliver family planning to all girls of childbearing age, the adolescent pregnancy rate remains high. The Adolescent and Youth Friendly Service (AYFS), integrated into overall primary health care programs throughout the country, aims to reverse this situation. Our study objective was to assess this health care service's quality in its location in Marrere Health Centre, Nampula, northern Mozambique, using clients' perspective. METHODS: we implemented a descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study sampling 124 individuals, who had recently accessed the AYFS at Marrere Health Centre. Data were collected through a questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale in questions regarding satisfaction level (i.e. always, most times, sometimes, few times, never) and additional open answer questions to gain greater specific understanding. RESULTS: a total of 126 users of the AYFS were evaluated, all from the Emacua ethnic-linguistic group. 85 (67%) were adolescents (<19 years), 78.2% female. The mean age was 17.6 years. We found an average of 0.54 pregnancies per woman and 87 participants (69%) never had a pregnancy; of 39 (31%) who had been pregnant, 17 (44%) were able to report the date of the first prenatal visit, on average performed at week 16 (2nd trimester), though with 9 (53%) having performed it during the first trimester. Spontaneous and induced abortions were reported respectively in 4 and 34 cases, respectively, and none with adolescents. The "overall satisfaction" rate was more frequent in both groups, being answered by 93.8% of youth and adults (>= 19 years) and 72.0% of adolescents, a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: while most users are satisfied with the services there was, however, some sharp criticism. Health professionals' practice with the protocol varied, and there were significant deficiencies in information and communication with users. Open communication within families and information reinforcement about sexual and reproductive health and male participation in family planning were found to be in need of strengthening. Our recommendations include reinforcing health professional's training to protect adolescents and young people' sexual health, an important strategy in primary health care to achieve universal health coverage.

What can be done to reduce the prevalence of teen pregnancy in rural Eastern Uganda?: multi-stakeholder perceptions.

INTRODUCTION: The teenage pregnancy rate of 25% in Uganda is worrying though it may seem low compared to 28% in Sub-Saharan countries and West and Central Africa. Young mothers in Uganda risk poor maternal and child health, being isolated, attempting unsafe abortions, failure to continue with school, and poverty. This paper describes perceptions and recommendations of young mothers, family and community members on why the high rate of teenage pregnancies in Uganda and how these can be reduced. METHODS: This qualitative research was conducted from March to May 2016 in six communities within Budondo sub-county (Jinja district), Eastern Uganda. In-depth oral interviews were conducted with 101 purposively sampled adolescent mothers, family members, and workers of government and non-government organizations. Thematic analysis framed around levels of influence within a social cognitive framework was conducted using Atlas-ti (version 7.5.4). RESULTS: Perceived determinants of teenage pregnancies include: lack of life and social survival skills, lack of knowledge on how to avoid pregnancy, low acceptance/use of contraceptives, neglect by parents, sexual abuse, pressure to contribute to family welfare through early marriage or sexual transactions, lack of community responsibility, media influence, peer pressure, cultural beliefs that promote early marriage/childbearing and lack of role models. Other contributing factors include drug use among boys, poverty, late work hours, long travel distances, e.g., to school, and unsupervised locations like sugarcane plantation thickets. Recommendations participants offered include: sensitization seminars and counselling for parents and girls, closing pornography outlets that accept entrance of minors, using the law to punish rapists, involvement of the President to campaign against early pregnancies, school dismissal before dark, locally accessible schools and job creation for parents to earn money to support the girls financially. Areas for capacity building are: training teachers and community members in transferring empowerment and vocational skills to girls, and construction of homes with separate rooms to support parents' privacy. CONCLUSION: The factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in Uganda fall under individual, economic, social and physical environmental determinants. Recommendations spanning family, community and government involvement can ultimately empower girls, their families and community members, and support collective action to reduce teenage pregnancies.

Trends in adolescent first births in sub-Saharan Africa: a tale of increasing inequity?

BACKGROUND: Single aggregate figures for adolescent pregnancy may fail to demonstrate particular population groups where rates are very high, or where progress has been slow. In addition, most indicators fail to separate younger from older adolescents. As there is some evidence that the disadvantages faced by adolescent mothers are greatest for those at the younger end of the spectrum, this is an important omission. This paper provides information on levels and trends of adolescent first births in 22 countries (at national and regional level) disaggregated by age (< 16 years, 16/17 years and 18/19 years), socio-economic status and place of residence. It highlights differences and similarities between countries in the characteristics of women who experience first birth during adolescence, as well as providing information on trends to identify groups where progress in reducing adolescent first births is poor. METHODOLOGY: In this descriptive and trend analysis study we used data from 22 low- and middle-income countries from sub-Saharan Africa that have at least three Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) since 1990, with the most recent carried out after 2005. Adolescent first births from the most recent survey are analysed by age, wealth, and residence by country and region for women aged 20-24 years at time of survey. We also calculated annual percentage rates of change (using both short- and longer-term data) for adolescent first births disaggregated by age, family wealth and residence and examined changes in concentration indices (CI). FINDINGS: Overall percentages of adolescent first births vary considerably between countries for all disaggregated age groups. The burden of first birth among adolescents is significant, including in the youngest age group: in some countries over 20% of women gave birth before 16 years of age (e.g. Mali and Niger). Adolescent first births are more common among women who are poorer, and live in rural areas; early adolescent first births before 16 years of age are particularly concentrated in these disadvantaged groups. Progress in reducing adolescent first births has also been particularly poor amongst these vulnerable groups, leading to increasing inequity. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study show that adolescent births are concentrated among vulnerable groups where progress is often poorest. Strategies and programmes need to be developed to reduce adolescent pregnancies in marginalised young women in low- and middle-income countries.

Maternal deaths due to eclampsia in teenagers: Lessons from assessment of maternal deaths in South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Eclampsia remains a major cause of maternal mortality, particularly in teenage pregnancies. Healthcare professionals providing antenatal must regard teenagers as a high risk group for the pre-eclampsia-eclampsia syndrome. SETTING: Data extracted from the South African Saving Mothers Report: 2014-2016. AIM: To establish the clinical details in teenage maternal deaths owing to eclampsia. METHOD: Retrospective review of the case records and maternal death assessment forms of teenagers that died due to eclampsia during 2014-2016. RESULTS: There were 47 teenagers (aged 14 to 19 years) who died from eclampsia. Of these 18 out of 47 (38%) deaths occurred in the post-partum period. Forty (85.1%) of the patients had antenatal care. Three (6.4%) had post-partum eclampsia, and of the remaining 44 of the 47 (93.6%), the gestational age at first occurrence of a seizure ranged from 25 to 39 weeks. The blood pressures at the time of seizure ranged from systolic of 131 to 210 mmHg and diastolic of 89 to 130 mmHg. The commonest final causes of death were intracerebral haemorrhage associated with severe hypertension and multi-organ failure. Avoidable factors included transport delays, referral to the wrong levels of health care and poor care by health professionals. CONCLUSION: Teenage pregnancy is a risk factor for eclampsia-related death; awareness of borderline elevations of blood pressure levels from baseline values (prehypertension levels) and taking following national guidelines on the management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy will decrease deaths from eclampsia.

Factors influencing sexual and reproductive health among adolescents in Lao PDR.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes. In addition, Lao PDR has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in southeast Asia and a high maternal mortality ratio. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to provide a comprehensive exploration of factors that influence SRH knowledge, attitudes, and practices of adolescents in Bokeo Province, Lao PDR. METHOD: Data from the Adolescent Girl Situation Analysis cross-sectional study, collected in 2018 using a mixed-method approach with 837 adolescents aged 10-19, and key informant interviews, were analysed. Regression analyses were used to identify predictors of modern contraception knowledge, autonomy, gender-based violence, sexual activity, and contraception use. This was complemented with qualitative thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Adolescents living in two rural districts had lower sexual and reproductive health knowledge compared to urban district residents. Findings showed misconceptions about the birth control pill, a belief that sex education is important, but that the current teaching quality is problematic. There was a strong positive association between knowledge and autonomy. In the two rural districts, residents were more likely to lack autonomy. Marriage was described as an autonomous decision, yet 40.4% lacked autonomy regarding marriage. Among sexually active adolescents, 35.2% used contraception. Boys and girls were said to be equal, yet education access and gender roles favoured boys. Additionally, violence was more justified by husbands against their wives. CONCLUSION: The study helps to understand the views and perceptions of adolescents and key informants on gender equality and gender-based violence. Three main areas require more effort and greater investment to improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health: knowledge and use of contraceptives, gender inequality, and autonomy. There is poor knowledge of contraceptive methods, indicating a need to further integrate comprehensive sexual education, introduced in primary school, and to increase investment in training and monitoring teachers.

Individual and Contextual Factors Associated with Teenage Pregnancy in Colombia: A Multilevel Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze municipal- and individual-level factors related to the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Colombia during 2015. METHODS: We analyzed 660,767 births registers, of which 21.5% recorded adolescent women. At an individual level, marital status, educational level, area of residence, and access to health services were included in the analysis. At the contextual level, Colombian municipal socioeconomic characteristics and proxies of violence and poverty were analyzed. A multilevel logistic regression model was generated with a Markov Chain Monte Carlo estimation method using 100,000 simulations in MLwiN 2.32 software. RESULTS: Multilevel modeling revealed an increased risk of teenage pregnancy in municipalities with the highest numbers of people expelled by forced displacement (OR 1.21; CI 95%, 1.13-1.29) and with unsatisfied basic needs (OR 1.09; CI 95%, 1.02-1.17). At an individual level, the majority of the teenage women were unmarried and/or had an unstable partnership, a low level of educational, a subsidized health regimen, and resided in the municipal seat. CONCLUSIONS: Municipal contextual variables related to poverty, violence, and social inequity contribute to an increase in teenage pregnancy in Colombia. At the individual level, marital status, educational level, and area of residence is associated with teenage pregnancy. It is therefore imperative to include municipal contextual characteristics in the design of the national political agenda.

Adolescent Fertility Is Lower than Expected in Rural Areas: Results from 10 African HDSS.

The adolescent birth rate (ABR) is an important indicator of maternal health, adolescent sexual health, and gender equity; it remains high in sub-Saharan Africa. While Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) are the main source of ABR estimates, Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) also produce ABRs. Studies are lacking, however, to assess the ease of access and accuracy of HDSS ABR measures. In this paper, we use birth and exposure data from 10 HDSS in six African countries to compute local ABRs and compare these rates to DHS regional rates where the HDSS sites are located, standardizing by education and place of residence. In rural HDSS sites, the ABR measure is on average 44 percent lower than the DHS measure, after controlling for education and place of residence. Strong temporary migration of childless young women out of rural areas and different capacities in capturing temporarily absent women in the DHS and HDSS could explain this discrepancy. Further comparisons based on more strictly similar populations and measures seem warranted.

Trends and determinants of adolescent childbirth in Uganda- analysis of rural and urban women using six demographic and health surveys, 1988-2016.

INTRODUCTION: Uganda has high adolescent pregnancy. The details of adolescent childbirth and urban/rural patterns are scarce. We investigated the levels, time trends and determinants of adolescent childbirth in Uganda separately for urban and rural women. METHODS: We estimated the percentage of women 20-24 years at each of the six Uganda Demographic and Health Surveys (1988/89, 1995, 2000/01, 2006, 2011 and 2016) who reported a live childbirth before age 20 years ("adolescent childbirth"), and examined change over time using t-test. A modified multivariable Poisson regression was used to examine determinants of having adolescent childbirth on the 2016 survey. RESULTS: Among these women, 67.5, 66.4, 70.1, 62.3, 57.3 and 54.1% reported an adolescent childbirth in 1988/89, 1995, 2000/01, 2006, 2011 and 2016 surveys, respectively. Between 1988/89 to 2000/01, there was no evidence of change (+ 2.6% point (pp), p = 0.170), unlike between the 2000/01 and 2016 surveys when a significant decline occurred (- 16.0 pp., p < 0.001). First childbirth < 18 years of age declined by - 13.5 pp. (p < 0.001) between 2000/01 and 2016. There was no change over time in the percentage of adolescents 18-19.9 years of age having first childbirth. Among rural residents, childbirth < 18 years declined from 43.8% in 1988/89 to 32.7% in 2016 (- 11.1 pp., p < 0.001), in urban it declined from 28.3 to 18.2% (- 10.1 pp., p = 0.006). There was an increase over time in the percentage of women, both rural and urban, who wanted to delay their first pregnancy. Independent determinants of reporting an adolescent childbirth in both urban and rural residents were: no education/incomplete primary and younger age at first sex. Additional determinants for rural women were residence in Eastern region, Muslim religion, and poor household wealth index. CONCLUSION: In the 30-year period examined, adolescent childbirth in Uganda declined from highs of 7 in 10 to approximately 5 in 10 women, with more wanting to delay the pregnancy. The decline started after the 2000/01 survey and affected predominantly younger adolescent childbirth < 18 years among both rural and urban residence women. Efforts need to be intensified to sustain the decline in adolescent pregnancies. Targeted and specific strategies for urban and rural areas might be required.

Sociodemographic and obstetric factors related to low birth weight in the context of early pregnancy / Fatores sociodemográficos e obstétricos relacionados ao baixo peso em recém-nascidos no contexto da gravidez precoce

Abstract Objectives: to analyze sociodemographic and obstetric factors that may influence the occurrence of low birth weight in the context of early pregnancy. Methods: the sample consisted of 232 pregnant teenagers, aged 10-19 years old, were assisted at a public maternity hospital in Aracaju-SE during the period of August 2012 to July 2016. The data collection was conducted through a structured questionnaire. Results: low birth weight was observed in 41.38% of the newborns and there was a statistical association between the educational level and the marital status with the occurrence of low birth weight in newborns among teenage mothers, with p=0.0286 and p=0.0247, respectively. Conclusions: the socioeconomic factors may contribute to the occurrence of low birth weight in newborns of teenage mothers and teenage pregnancy at this age represents a serious public health problem.

Resumo Objetivos: analisar os fatores sociodemográficos e obstétricos que podem influenciar na ocorrência do baixo peso ao nascer no contexto da gravidez precoce. Métodos: amostra constou de 232 adolescentes grávidas, na faixa etária de 10 a 19 anos, atendidas em uma maternidade pública de Aracaju-SE, Brasil, durante o período de agosto de 2012 a julho de 2016. A coleta de dados foi realizada através de um questionário estruturado. Resultados: observou-se baixo peso em 41,38% dos recém-nascidos e que o nível de escolaridade e o tipo de vínculo com o parceiro tiveram relevância estatística para a ocorrência do baixo peso em recém-nascidos de mães adolescentes, com p=0,0286 e p=0,0247, respectivamente. Conclusões: os fatores socioeconômicos podem contribuir para a ocorrência de baixo peso em recém-nascidos de mães adolescentese que a gravidez nesta faixa etária constitui grave problema de saúde pública de natureza multifatorial.

Motherhood in early adolescence: a case-control study in Southern Brazil.

This paper investigates factors associated with motherhood among adolescents from 14 to 16 years of age in Porto Alegre, Brazil. This is a case-control study with 431 adolescent mothers (cases) and 862 adolescents who had never given birth (controls). D. ata were obtained through home visits by an interviewer-applied questionnaire. Sociodemographic characteristics, quality of social and family relationships, lifestyle and history of abuse were studied as potential determinants to early adolescent motherhood. Conditional logistic regression was used for data analysis according to a two-stage hierarchical model. Results showed that lower economic class, schooling failure, tobacco consumption, alcoholic drunkenness at least once in life and having a mother who gave birth before 20 years of age were positively associated with early adolescent motherhood. Later menarche and having relatives or having friends in whom to trust remained as protective factors. Schooling failure, which obtained the highest risk, points to the important role of the school in this population's development and its potential to stimulate healthy life habits.

Title X Regulatory Changes and Their Impact on Adolescent Health.

Title X of the Public Health Act has provided access to confidential reproductive care for low-income adolescents and adults since 1970, helping to bring adolescent pregnancy rates to historic lows. Recent regulatory changes in program funding eligibility and provider counseling options may reverse this trend. This policy brief will address the history and impact of Title X funding on adolescent access to reproductive health care, explain the implications of these recent regulatory changes in Title X implementation, and encourage advocacy to protect health care provider practice and adolescent access to confidential care.

Navigating a Minefield: Meta-Synthesis of Teen Mothers' Breastfeeding Experience.

Teen mothers have lower rates of breastfeeding duration and exclusivity than older mothers. A growing body of qualitative research on teen mothers' experience helps to explain these disparities. Following a systematic search to identify relevant research, we synthesized the findings from 22 primary studies to conclude that teen mothers navigate a minefield that undermines their intention to breastfeed and their breastfeeding confidence and skill. This metaphorical minefield reflects competing norms for infant feeding and good mothering, as evident in mixed support from teens' social networks; fragmented and stigmatizing healthcare; and spaces that are inhospitable to teen mothers and breastfeeding mothers in general.In recognition of this minefield, we urge clinicians to: respect teen mothers' infant feeding decisions; develop collaborative relationships based on the principles of patient-centered and strength-based care; challenge stigmatizing healthcare practices; welcome teen mothers and their significant others to clinical settings; and press health systems to fully implement probreastfeeding policies. We also recommend further study to extend our knowledge about teen mothers' breastfeeding experiences.