First Early Pregnancy and Associated Factors Among Adolescent Girls in Benin

The aim of this study is to evaluate associated factors of the first early pregnancy among adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 years old. Data, both quantitative and qualitative for a better appreciation of the event studied, were collected in May 2019 in the 12 departments of Benin. The total sample included 703 participants, aged 15 to 19 years old. Logistic regression method was used to identify the associated factors. The main verbatims of the qualitative component were used to assess the convergences or divergences with the quantitative results of the logistic regression. Among adolescent girls surveyed, 30.2% (n = 212) had their first pregnancy before the age of 18 years old. After multivariate analysis, the main associated variables are: age at first menstruation, age at first sexual intercourse, ethnicity, childhood socialization area, father/guardian education level and economic activity, exposure to entertainment activities and information and communication technologies (ICTs). Qualitative interviews showed that naivete, lack of reliable information on sexual and reproductive health before puberty and adolescence period contribute to the early pregnancy. In addition, before being sexually active, certain contextual and social parameters such as peer pressure, bad company, lifestyles, drop of parental control, influence of modernization due to social change, etc. emerged from the qualitative interviews. Questions arise about the effectiveness of the many interventions that have been implemented over decades about their contribution to improving sexual and reproductive health in adolescence and improving the social and economic status of girls.