Temporal trend of adolescent pregnancy in Brasil

Abstract

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To analyze the temporal trend and factors associated with adolescent pregnancy during ten years in Brasil. METHODS: Data were extracted from the Live Births Information System, of the Brazilian Health System and included information regarding live births from adolescent mothers from 2006 to 2015. The overall proportion of gestation in adolescence and the specific proportions according to the characteristics analyzed were calculated using the standardized reporting coefficients and the simple linear regression method. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNISUL). RESULTS: The general proportion of Live Births from adolescent mothers varied from 21.4% in 2006 to 18.1% in 2015. This reduction occurred because of the negative variation observed among mothers aged 15 to 19 years. The indigenous group was the only that did not present a reduction. There was an increase in the proportion of adolescents with between four and seven years of formal education and in the proportion of adolescents living with partners. There was a reduction in all Brazilian Regions and in large part of the Federation Units. CONCLUSION: The analysis of the temporal trend identifies a reduction in the proportion of live births among adolescent mothers in Brasil. However, there is a growing trend among some specific groups.