| dc.description.abstract | Introduction
Adolescents in Kenya are increasingly starting sexual intercourse at early ages in their lives. Hence, the study offers an in-depth analysis of the relative contribution of some socio-demographic, socioeconomic, and healthcare system factors in explaining adolescent pregnancy attending Kiambu Health
Centre for antenatal services.
Objectives
The specific objectives of the study were: To determine the influence of socio-demographic factors,determine the proportion of teenage adolescent who had ever been pregnant, the influence of socioeconomic factors on teenage pregnancies, and lastly the influence of health system factors that influences teenage pregnancy among adolescent girls attending antenatal clinic at kiambu health Centre in Kenya.
Methods:
Using primary data collected, on socio-demographic, socio-economic, and healthcare system factors, a sample of 247 respondents between the ages of 13-19years was studied in August 2012. Frequency tables were generated and Chi-square was run to establish the significant associations between
dependent variable (teenage pregnancy) and several explanatory independent variables.
Results:
Results from the above indicate that age (X²= 1.53 and P<0.018), level of education (X²=1.01 and P<0.018)and tribe (X²=9.550 and P<0.023) had a significant influence on the dependent variable (teenage pregnancy), while religion (X²=8.024 and P>0.05), place of residence (X²=1.038 and P>0.05)
and health care system factors such as heard of family planning (X²=5.66 and P>0.05), method used (X²=4.756 and P>0.05) and supply (X²=1.526 and P>0.05) were not statistically connected to teenage pregncancy. Adolescents who were peasants, (70.9%) and rural based (55%) were at a higher risk of
being pregnant compared to those from urban areas (45%). some of the risk factors that were likely to affect adolescents to have unwanted pregnancy were; marriage before 18years, lack of sex education and counseling against pregnancy. These factors were considered to pose high risks to adolescents
because of studies that have been carried out by WHO and other international organizations in developing countries.
Conclusion:
The factors influencing teenage pregnancy attending antinetal clinic at Kiambu Health centre are preventable. Therefore various stakeholders need to put in action plans to prevent them.
Recommendations:
The study therefore recommends the district health team to intensify health education through information, education and communication materials geared towards risk reduction of adolescent pregnancy. These materials should mainly target poor and adolescent girls. However, NGOs and other donors come up with income generating projects to reduce household poverty and enact a by-law for girl child not to marry before the age of 18years. | en_US |
