Abstract
Background
Adverse obstetric outcomes have been commonly associated with early childbearing in many low-and middle-income countries. Despite this evidence, scholarly information on early childbearing in the sub-Saharan African region, especially Nigeria, is limited. This study examines the predictors of young maternal age at first birth among women of reproductive age in Nigeria using multi-level analysis.
Methods
Data from the most recent Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2018 were analyzed. A total of 29,949 women of reproductive age (15–49 years) were considered for the study. Descriptive statistics using weighted percentage and chi-square test of independence (χ2) were first used to describe the variables of interest. This procedure was followed by a multilevel analysis of factors associated with young maternal age at first birth in Nigeria at p<0.05 level of significance.
Results
Approximately 36.80% of the sample population had their first birth before the age of 18. Mothers residing in the North-East region [aOR = 1.26; 95% (CI = 1.13–1.42)] and practicing Islam [aOR = 1.17; 95% (CI = 1.05–1.29] were more likely to have their first birth before the age of 18 than those in the North-Central region and those practicing Christianity. Living in communities with medium literacy level [aOR = 0.90; 95% (CI = 0.82–0.99)] and high literacy level [aOR = 0.71; 95% (CI = 0.62–0.81)], being within richest wealth index [aOR = 0.61; 95% (CI = 0.53–0.71)] and being Yoruba [aOR = 0.46; 95% (CI = 0.39–0.56)] were associated with lower odds of young maternal age at first birth.
Conclusion
More than one-third of women of reproductive age in Nigeria had given birth to their first child before 18 years. Thus, there is a need for the Nigerian government and other stakeholders, including Non-Governmental Organisations and Civil Society Organisations to formulate and implement policy interventions targeted at reducing early childbearing among women of reproductive age in Nigeria.
Funder
Bielefeld University, Germany
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Cited by
1 articles.
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