Prevalence and associated factors of adolescent pregnancy among sexually active adolescent girls: Evidence from the Peruvian Demographic and Family Health Survey, 2015-2019

Abstract

Background: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of adolescent pregnancy in Peru, 2015-2019. Methods: A population-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using pooled data from the Demographic and Family Health Surveys of Peru 2015-2019. A total weighted sample of 6892 adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 years with a history of sexual intercourse were included. Finally, the adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported to determine the factors that were significantly associated with adolescent pregnancy. Results: The prevalence of adolescent pregnancy in Peru was 30.1% (95%CI: 28.4–31.8%). In the multivariable analysis; being 17-19 years (aPR: 1.38; 95%CI :1.22–1.56), having a partner (aPR: 4.08; 95%CI: 3.46–4.81) and belonging to the Quechua ethnicity group (aPR: 1.20; 95%CI: 1.09–1.32), were associated with a higher prevalence. Whereas, having an occupation (aPR: 0.81; 95%CI: 0.75–0.88), currently studying (aPR: 0.42; 95%CI: 0.36–0.49), belonging to the second (aPR: 0.91; 95%CI: 0.84–0.98), third (aPR: 0.80; 95%CI: 0.72–0.89), fourth (aPR: 0.76; 95%CI: 0.64–0.89) and fifth (aPR: 0.55; 95%CI: 0.41–0.73) wealth quintile, initiating sexual relations between 17-19 years (aPR: 0.52; 95%CI: 0.46–0.59), perceiving a future pregnancy as a problem (aPR: 0.77; 95%CI: 0.70–0.83) and knowledge of the moment in the cycle when she could become pregnant (aPR: 0.84; 95%CI: 0.76–0.93), were associated with a lower prevalence of pregnancy. Conclusions: About three in 10 adolescents who initiated their sexual life presented with at least one pregnancy. Age, marital status, employment, education, wealth, ethnicity, age at first intercourse, knowledge of when in the cycle she may become pregnant, and perception of future pregnancy were associated with adolescent pregnancy. It is necessary to increase national policies on family planning and sex education among adolescents to reduce the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy in Peru.