Scholarlink

Background <p>Teenage pregnancy remains a significant public health concern in South Africa. Socio-demographic and living conditions shape the risk of teenage pregnancy. This study investigated the socioeconomic factors and living conditions associated with teenage pregnancy in Soweto and Thembelihle, two peri-urban townships in Johannesburg, South Africa, with distinct socioeconomic disparities.</p> Methods <p>This cross-sectional study analysed secondary data from the Soweto and Thembelihle Health and Demographic Surveillance System (SaT-HDSS), collected between May 2023 and April 2024. The analysis included 6,064 teenagers aged 13–19 years. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was used to assess the association between self-reported teenage pregnancy and socioeconomic factors and living conditions, including age, wealth index, main dwelling, number of rooms used for sleeping, internet access, and current contraceptive use. Both unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios, along with their 95% confidence intervals, were calculated.</p> Results <p>Overall, 6.7% (409) reported a teenage pregnancy. Teenagers aged 18–19 years were 12.98 times more likely to have been pregnant than those aged 13–15 years (aOR = 12.98; 95% CI = 5.63–29.94). Belonging to wealthier households demonstrated a protective effect, with teenagers from the richest wealth quintile being less likely to experience pregnancy (aOR = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.13–0.87). Access to the internet at home was associated with reduced odds of pregnancy, even after controlling for wealth index (aOR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.36–0.90). Contraceptive use was associated with higher odds of having had a pregnancy (aOR = 6.85; 95% CI = 4.62–10.17). Teenagers in male-headed households were at increased risk of pregnancy (aOR = 2.43; 95% CI = 1.58–3.75).</p> Conclusions <p>These findings underscore the multifaceted nature of teenage pregnancy and the urgent need for evidence-based interventions in South Africa. A critical evaluation of current interventions and service delivery mechanisms is also needed to understand their effectiveness and reach, particularly in peri-urban settings.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Socioeconomic factors and living conditions associated with teenage pregnancy in Soweto and Thembelihle townships, Johannesburg, South Africa: 2023–2024

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月28日

查看全文
  • Maatla D. Temane,
  • Nqaba Mthimkhulu,
  • Sinalo Gqunu,
  • Bongani Ntimani,
  • Avani Kashiram,
  • Shabnam Shaik,
  • Siobhan L. Johnstone,
  • Takwanisa Machemedze,
  • Shabir A. Madhi,
  • Ziyaad Dangor

摘要

Background

Teenage pregnancy remains a significant public health concern in South Africa. Socio-demographic and living conditions shape the risk of teenage pregnancy. This study investigated the socioeconomic factors and living conditions associated with teenage pregnancy in Soweto and Thembelihle, two peri-urban townships in Johannesburg, South Africa, with distinct socioeconomic disparities.

Methods

This cross-sectional study analysed secondary data from the Soweto and Thembelihle Health and Demographic Surveillance System (SaT-HDSS), collected between May 2023 and April 2024. The analysis included 6,064 teenagers aged 13–19 years. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was used to assess the association between self-reported teenage pregnancy and socioeconomic factors and living conditions, including age, wealth index, main dwelling, number of rooms used for sleeping, internet access, and current contraceptive use. Both unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios, along with their 95% confidence intervals, were calculated.

Results

Overall, 6.7% (409) reported a teenage pregnancy. Teenagers aged 18–19 years were 12.98 times more likely to have been pregnant than those aged 13–15 years (aOR = 12.98; 95% CI = 5.63–29.94). Belonging to wealthier households demonstrated a protective effect, with teenagers from the richest wealth quintile being less likely to experience pregnancy (aOR = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.13–0.87). Access to the internet at home was associated with reduced odds of pregnancy, even after controlling for wealth index (aOR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.36–0.90). Contraceptive use was associated with higher odds of having had a pregnancy (aOR = 6.85; 95% CI = 4.62–10.17). Teenagers in male-headed households were at increased risk of pregnancy (aOR = 2.43; 95% CI = 1.58–3.75).

Conclusions

These findings underscore the multifaceted nature of teenage pregnancy and the urgent need for evidence-based interventions in South Africa. A critical evaluation of current interventions and service delivery mechanisms is also needed to understand their effectiveness and reach, particularly in peri-urban settings.