Factors Associated with Adolescent Pregnancy in Nepal: An Analysis from the Demographic and Health Survey 2022

Abstract

Background: Adolescent pregnancy is a critical global issue that poses a significant health risk to young mothers who are unprepared for safe motherhood. It also hinders their access to education, employment, and financial independence, perpetuating poor health, gender inequality, and poverty. Addressing this issue is vital for improving health and socio-economic outcomes.

Objective: To identify the factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in Nepal using data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey of 2022.

Materials and Methods: The secondary dataset from the most recent Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, 2022, was used in the study. The study includes a weighted sample of 2,643 female adolescents aged 15 to 19. The prevalence of adolescent pregnancy across various socio-demographic variables, along with the factors associated with adolescent pregnancy, was identified through multivariate logistic regression. Model adequacy was confirmed through the Hosmer-Lemeshow test and the ROC curve analysis. All statistical analyses were performed in the R programming language.

Results: The findings confirmed a declining trend in adolescent pregnancy in Nepal. Eight variables were significantly associated with adolescent pregnancy, including education level (basic, secondary, and above), ethnicity (Dalit, Janajati, others), occupation (non-agriculture), exposure to mass media (at least once a week), use of contraceptive measures (no), household wealth quintile (richer, middle, poorer), time to reach the nearest health facility (more than half an hour), and province of residence (Madhesh, Karnali). Each of these factors influenced the likelihood of adolescent pregnancy in different ways across the country.

Conclusion: This study underscored the continued prevalence of adolescent pregnancy and its disproportionate effect on socially and economically marginalized populations in Nepal. Targeted interventions focusing on education and media campaigns, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups in Madhesh and Karnali provinces, should be introduced to mitigate adolescent pregnancy in Nepal.