Risk factors for pregnancy among adolescent girls in Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem municipality of Ghana

Abstract

Pregnancy among adolescents has become a major issue in Ghana with high prevalence in some regions in the country, including the Central Region. Using a 1:1 matched case-control study design, this study sought to find out the risk factors associated with pregnancy among adolescent girls in Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality (KEEA) Municipality. A sample size of 400 was taken from the population of 7,667 female adolescents. Facility-based sampling was used to sample respondents for the study. Analysis was done by employing binary logistic regression. The results were interpreted using odds ratio and p-values. Results of the study showed that adolescents’ level of education (OR = 0.14, 95% CI = [0.05 – 0.42], p = 0.000), mothers’ level of education (OR = 0.26, 95% CI = [0.11 – 0.62], p = 0.002) and fathers’ level of education (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = [0.15 – 0.47], p = 0.001), level of strictness of rules and regulations in family (OR = 0.14, 95% CI = [0.07 – 0.25], p = 0.000), freedom within the family to discuss issues related to sexuality (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = [0.18 –0.59], p = 0.000), peer influence to engage in sexual intercourse (OR = 2.63, 95% CI = [1.46-4.74], p = .001) and attitude of parents towards pregnancy (OR = 2.97, 95% CI = [1.15-7.70], p = .025) had statistically significant influence on adolescents’ pregnancy in KEEA Municipality. Adolescent girls in KEEA Municipality are likely to experience continuous exposure to the risk of pregnancy once their level of education and that of their parents is low. It is recommended that the Ghana Education Service, through the Municipality Education Unit should encourage adolescent girls in KEEA Municipality to enrol in schools.