Peer-reviewed article
Prevalence and Factors Associated With Adolescent Pregnancy Among an Indigenous Ethnic Group in Rural Nepal: A Community-based Cross-sectional Study.
Bhatta K, Pathak P, Subedi M ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined adolescent pregnancy among the Chepang, an indigenous ethnic group in rural Nepal. Researchers interviewed 231 women and found that over 71% of Chepang women experienced pregnancy as adolescents, with nearly 73% married before age 18. The main factors linked to adolescent pregnancy were lack of knowledge about its risks, unplanned pregnancies, and absence of sex education. The researchers concluded that comprehensive sex education and awareness programs are needed to reduce adolescent pregnancy in this community.
Key points
- Prevalence of adolescent pregnancy among Chepang women was 71.4%
- 72.7% of participants were married before age 18
- Poor knowledge of adolescent pregnancy increased odds 10.3 times
- Unplanned pregnancy increased odds 13.3 times
- Lack of sex education increased odds 6.57 times
Limitations
This cross-sectional study describes associations at one point in time but cannot establish causation. The findings apply only to the Chepang community in this specific rural municipality and may not represent other indigenous or rural populations in Nepal.
Abstract
Objectives The Chepang people, an indigenous ethnic group in Nepal, experience substantial marginalization and socioeconomic disadvantages, making their communities among the most vulnerable in the region. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in the Chepang communities of Raksirang Rural Municipality, Makwanpur District, Bagmati Province, Nepal. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2022 to April 2023 among 231 Chepang women selected using simple random sampling from Raksirang Rural Municipality. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for interviewing the mothers. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, using odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Variables with a variation inflation factor of more than 2 and a p-value of more than 0.25 were excluded from the final model. Results The study revealed that the prevalence rate of adolescent pregnancy among Chepang women was 71.4% (95% CI, 65.14 to 77.16). A large percentage of participants (72.7%) were married before the age of 18 years. Poor knowledge of adolescent pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 10.3; 95% CI, 8.42 to 14.87), unplanned pregnancy (aOR, 13.3; 95% CI, 10.76 to 19.2), and lack of sex education (aOR, 6.57; 95% CI, 3.85 to 11.27) were significantly associated with adolescent pregnancy. Conclusions The prevalence of adolescent pregnancy among the Chepang community was high. These findings highlighted the importance of raising awareness about the potential consequences of adolescent pregnancy and implementing comprehensive sexuality education programs for preventing adolescent pregnancies within this community.