Publication:

Exploring the patterns and socio-economic determinants of teenage pregnancy in India

Background Adolescent pregnancy is a significant public health issue in low- and middle-income (LMICs) countries, influenced by factors like early marriage, low education, rural residence, poverty, limited contraceptive use, and sociocultural norms. Therefore, this study aims to assess the patterns and socio-economic determinants of adolescent pregnancy in India.

Methods The analysis draws on data from the fourth and fifth rounds of the national family health survey (NFHS), focusing on adolescent girls aged 15-19. Univariate, bivariate analysis and binary logistic regression were performed to assess patterns and socio-economic determinants of adolescent pregnancy.

Results Results indicate a decline in adolescent pregnancy rates from 8.5% to 7.2% in the fourth and fifth rounds of NFHS. A higher rate of adolescent pregnancy was observed among not educated (21.4% to 19.2%), primary educated (15.6% to 13.4%), poorest (11.2% to 10.5%), and scheduled tribes (ST) (11.2% to 9.3%). Additional determinants included other religious, scheduled caste (SC), exposure to mass media, and family planning messages had the lower rate of adolescent pregnancies and women residing in eastern and northeastern regions had higher pregnancies. The logistic results also suggested that urban residence, higher level of education, working status, Christian faith, richest wealth status, and exposure to mass media had lower likelihood of adolescent pregnancies in India.

Conclusions Findings suggest that while improvements in healthcare access and economic conditions have reduced adolescent pregnancy rates, persistent structural inequalities remain. Policy efforts must prioritize education, economic empowerment, rural health infrastructure, and youth-centered reproductive health services to achieve meaningful reductions in teenage pregnancies.