Explore the vast range of titles available.

Background Recognizing that adolescents face barriers in accessing services, may feel embarrassed, face stigma on sexual matters, or have concerns about judgmental providers, youth-friendly service (YFS) has been introduced to deliver health services that meet the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of young people. Evidences on the role of YFS in addressing the socio-cultural norms influence unmarried adolescent SRH behaviour are limited. Therefore, this study explore whether the socio-cultural norms influencing adolescent SRH behaviour vary between youth friendly service program and non Program areas in West Gojjam Zone, North West Ethiopia. Methods Qualitative case study design was employed to explore the socio-cultural context of adolescent sexuality. Purposive sampling was used to identify study participants. Data were collected from 112 participants both from YFS program and non-program areas using semi-structured in-depth interviews, key informants, and focus group discussions guides. A total of 18 key informant interviews, twelve FGDs and four in-depth interviews were conducted. Participants were comprised from unmarried adolescents, parents, religious leaders, community elders, health professionals, teachers, and unmarried adolescents who experienced SRH problem. Thematic analysis was used to summarized the data. Results The socio-cultural norms related to adolescent sexuality in both YFS program and non-program areas indicated that the community is intolerant to premarital sex, SRH service utilization (eg., contraceptive use) by unmarried adolescent; and discourage SRH communication with unmarried adolescents. According to the participants, premarital sex and SRH service use were not accepted by the community. Moreover, participants believed that, having communication on SRH issues with unmarried adolescents are equivalent to encouraging them to initiate sex, therefore, should not be practiced. Conclusion The socio-cultural norms influencing adolescent sexual behaviour were more or less the same between settings. In both areas, the socio-cultural context discourages YFS intervention like SRH communication and service use. Also, the YFS program does not modify the socio-cultural norm affecting adolescent sexuality. Therefore, the YFS interventions strategies should give due emphasis to the socially accepted sexual norms like sexual abstinence.

Background Adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights remain critical public health issues in low- and middle-income countries, with adverse health, educational, and economic consequences. Uganda faces significant challenges with high rates of unintended pregnancies among adolescents. This study examined factors associated with unintended pregnancies among unmarried adolescents in Eastern Uganda. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among unmarried adolescent boys and girls aged 15–19 years in Iganga and Bugiri municipalities between February and March 2024. Data were collected at mobile money shops to target customers through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The variables included sociodemographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, contraceptive knowledge, usage of mobile money shops, and environmental factors. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with unintended pregnancies. Results Among the 1267 eligible adolescents, 876 had ever engaged in sexual intercourse. Of these, 22.5% ( n  = 197) reported experiencing an unintended pregnancy. The factors associated with a lower likelihood of pregnancy included school enrollment (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.24–0.54), co-residences with parents (AOR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.33–0.69), and teachers’ awareness of students’ lives/worries (AOR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.37–0.84). Factors associated with a higher likelihood of pregnancy were knowledge of how to use contraceptives (AOR = 2.28; 95% CI: 1.16–4.49), communication with parents/guardians (AOR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.32–2.75), parental support for contraception (AOR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.03–2.59), and mobile phone possession (AOR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.09–4.90). Adolescents who had experienced pregnancy were significantly more likely to consider community-based distributors as comfortable sources for sexual and reproductive health information (AOR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.11–2.66) and contraceptives (AOR = 4.76; 95% CI: 2.39–9.47). Conclusions Nearly one-quarter of unmarried adolescents have experienced—or caused—a pregnancy in Eastern Uganda. School enrollment and parental engagement were inversely associated with adolescent pregnancy. Many adolescents may gain contraceptive knowledge and support after an unintended pregnancy. Community-based service delivery was preferred over facility-based options. Further researches are needed to develop a community-based platform for reaching underserved unmarried adolescents and promoting appropriate contraceptive use. Trial registration This study was registered at Japan’s University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000053332) on 12 January 2024. Plain English summary Adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are pressing public health issues globally. Uganda has a high rate of unintended pregnancies among adolescents. This study examined factors associated with unintended pregnancies among unmarried adolescents in Eastern Uganda. This cross-sectional study was conducted in two municipalities (Iganga and Bugiri) in Eastern Uganda. It included 1267 unmarried boys and girls aged 15–19 years who visited mobile money shops. Among the 876 adolescents who had ever had sexual intercourse, 22.5% of them experienced pregnancies. The factors associated with a lower prevalence of pregnancy were: school enrollment (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.36), co-residence with parents (AOR = 0.48), and teachers’ awareness of students’ lives/worries (AOR = 0.56). In contrast, the factors associated with a higher prevalence of pregnancy were: knowledge of how to use contraceptives (AOR = 2.28), communication with parents/guardians (AOR = 1.91), parental support for contraception (AOR = 1.64), and mobile phone possession (AOR = 2.30), which may imply that many adolescents gained contraceptive knowledge and support only after an unintended pregnancy. In addition, community-based distributors, such as a mobile money shop, were considered comfortable channels for receiving SRHR services. In conclusion, it was suggested that school enrollment and parental engagement were positively associated with lower prevalence of unintended pregnancy, and many adolescents gained contraceptive knowledge and support only after an unintended pregnancy. Community-based service delivery was preferred over conventional facility-based options. Further researches are needed to develop a community-based platform for reaching out to underserved unmarried adolescents and promoting appropriate contraceptive use.

Background In Bangladesh, 24 % of the total populations are adolescents. Twelve months intervention was implemented under Demand-Based Reproductive Health Commodity Project (DBRHCP) in two low performing areas: rural Sub-district Nabiganj (population 323,357) and an urban slum in Dhaka city (population 141,912). We evaluated the changes in knowledge of female unmarried adolescents on selected reproductive health issues over the project period in two low performing areas of Bangladesh. Methods A pre-post study design was adopted. Under DBRHCP, interventions were focused on training of government service providers, disseminating behaviour change materials within the targeted communities, and employing community-based health promoters (Community Support Group and Peer Promoters) to foster linkages between the community and providers. All households were enumerated. A baseline survey was conducted during November 2006 to March 2007 and an end-line survey was conducted during November 2008 to March 2009. Eight hundred female unmarried adolescents (12–19 years) were selected independently for each survey from each study area through systematic random sampling, capturing changes over the 12 months intervention period. Data was analyzed using SPSS. A chi-square test was used to assess the changes in knowledge between baseline and end-line among the female unmarried adolescents. Results Female unmarried adolescents had significantly increased knowledge at the end-line about measures to be taken during menstruation like: using clean and dry cloths. Overall, two-third of female unmarried adolescents knew about Family Planning (FP) methods in both study areas but had significantly increased knowledge on injectables and condoms at the end-line. Overall knowledge on Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDs) was markedly different in the urban and rural areas, but a significantly higher proportion of female unmarried adolescents knew about HIV/AIDs from relatives and school curricula, and had increased knowledge about mode of transmission of HIV/AIDs, like: receiving blood from an HIV infected person and using a HIV infected needle or syringe, at the end-line. A significantly higher proportion of female unmarried adolescents reported sexually transmitted infection (STI) related symptoms at the end-line compared to baseline. Overall variation in knowledge about Government healthcare facilities, Non-Government Organization (NGO) healthcare facilities and private healthcare facilities was found in both study areas, but awareness was increased about the type of healthcare facilities at the end-line. Conclusion The improvement of the female unmarried adolescents’ knowledge on selected Reproductive Health (RH) issues suggest that the interventions affected RH related knowledge reported in the study. These interventions can be adapted in the health service delivery system to enhance people’s knowledge on RH issues to achieve RH for adolescents.

Nigeria is one of Africa’s most populous countries. Nigeria’s population is expected to exceed 400 million by 2050, putting it among the top five most populous countries in the world. High birth rates, limited contraception use, and early marriage are the main causes of this rapid increase. In Nigeria, adolescents play a substantial role in these issues, with 117 births per 1000 girls aged 15–19 years. Data for this article comes from the 2018 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Our sample consisted of 1014 sexually active unmarried adolescents aged 15–19 years. Kaplan Meier’s curve, Log Rank Test, and Cox proportional hazards model were modeled to estimate the parameters at p > 0.05. Findings show that the average time to the first use of modern contraceptives after sexual initiation is two years. Initiating sex at age 15 or later, belonging to the richest household wealth quintile, and use of the internet is associated with the early initiation of modern contraceptive methods, while residing in the northwest region and being older are associated with a low incidence of modern contraceptive use. Results indicate a deferred initiation of modern contraceptives after first sexual encounter. It has become imperative for tailored interventions to improve the time of initiation of contraceptives, so as to reduce the associated burdens and consequences.

Healthcare providers play a critical role in the provision of sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents. In Ethiopia, due to different reasons, including healthcare providers associated reasons, most unmarried adolescents are not accessing the services. However, little is known about healthcare providers' perception towards the provision of SRH services for unmarried adolescents. This study aimed to explore healthcare provider perception towards the provision of SRH services to unmarried adolescents in Gamo zone, Southern Ethiopia. A qualitative phenomenological research design was used in May 2021. Fifteen healthcare providers (HCPs) working in adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health centers were involved in this study. A purposive sampling technique was used to select healthcare providers assuming they are \"information-rich\" regarding the phenomenon of interest. Inclusion of the study participants was continued until data saturation is reached. To analyze the data, we used inductive thematic analysis, method, and main themes, which captured the diverse views and feelings of the participants. To maintain the trustworthiness of the data, we used dependability, transferability, conformability, and credibility. In this study, individual-level attributes such as healthcare provider's personal belief, attitude, and motivation; community-level influences like socio-cultural norms, religious reasons, and lack of parental support; and health system setbacks like shortage of essential medical supplies and lack of training are identified as major obstacles in the provision of sexual and reproductive health services for unmarried adolescents. Provision of sexual and reproductive health services for unmarried adolescents is constrained by the interplay of factors acting at an individual level, community level, and health system level. The Ministry of Health (MOH), program planners and policymakers are recommended to give due attention to fulfill the necessary inputs, improving healthcare provider's attitude and skill and engagement of religious and community leaders to create a safe and supportive environment for providing sexual and reproductive health services to unmarried adolescents.

Data were collected on a convenience sample of 43 African-American unwed adolescent fathers. Indicated that father's parental responsibility was influenced by his own role expectations and self-image. The perceived role expectations of his partner and parents were not related. (Abstract amended)

This paper reports on in-depth interviews with black and white unmarried adolescent mothers, from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, about their pregnancy resolution. They revealed the importance of family members and other significant adults in the decision process. The analysis also indicated that personal, familial, and religious values were primary considerations in deciding to bear and keep their children.

After school specials about teenage pregnancy abound. Whether in television or in society, the focus tends toward young girls coping with all of the emotional and physical burdens of pregnancy but rarely is the perspective of the teenage fathers portrayed. In this informative book, Mark S. Kiselica draws on his many years of counseling teenage fathers to offer a compassionate look at the difficult life circumstances and the complicated hardships these young men experience. He dispels many of the myths surrounding teenage fatherhood and shows that, contrary to popular belief, these young men are often emotionally and physically involved in relationships with their partner and their child. But without support and guidance from adults, these relationships often deteriorate in the first year of the child-'s life. Kiselica offers advice for how professionals and policy makers can assist these young men and improve services for them. When Boys Become Parents provides a moving portrait of teenage fathers to any reader who wants to understand and help these young men to become more competent and loving parents during their journey to adulthood.

Season of birth is associated with later outcomes; what drives this association remains unclear. We consider a new explanation: variation in maternal characteristics. We document large changes in maternal characteristics for births throughout the year; winter births are disproportionally realized by teenagers and the unmarried. Family background controls explain nearly half of season-of-birth's relation to adult outcomes. Seasonality in maternal characteristics is driven by women trying to conceive; we find no seasonality among unwanted births. Prior seasonalityin-fertility research focuses on conditions at conception; here, expected conditions at birth drive variation in maternal characteristics, while conditions at conception are unimportant.

Background Unintended pregnancies and abortions among unmarried adolescents in Nigeria are outcomes of the interplay of multifaceted factors. Abortion, a global public health and social issue, impacts both developed and developing countries. This scoping review explored the literature and mapped the risk factors for unintended pregnancies and abortions among unmarried female adolescents in Nigeria. Methods A scoping literature search was conducted across databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, JSTOR, African Index Medicus, and Scopus. Inclusion criteria encompassed peer-reviewed articles and reports in English, focusing on unmarried female adolescents. The range of interest included the past incidents of having sex, unintended pregnancies, contraceptive use, and abortions among this demographic. Studies categorized as grey literature were excluded to ensure the reliability and validity of the synthesized information. Results A total of 560 articles, 553 identified through databases and 7 through hand search, were subjected to a comprehensive full-text review, resulting in the inclusion of 22 studies that met the criteria for the final review. The scoping review shed light on the past incidents of having sex, unintended pregnancies, contraceptive use, and abortions among unmarried adolescents in Nigeria. The range of incidence for having sex varied from 57.2% to 82.7%, with the prevalence of unintended pregnancies ranging from 23.4% to 92.7%. Contraceptive use was notably low, with 21.5% reporting low usage, contributing to the high incidence of abortions, ranging from 20.2% to 51.0%. Factors influencing unintended pregnancies included a lack of awareness of modern contraceptives and limited access to sexual and reproductive health information. For induced abortions, factors such as the impact on educational career, childbearing outside wedlock and fear of expulsion from school were identified. Conclusion This scoping review, through a systematic examination of existing literature, contributes to a more robust understanding of the factors influencing unintended pregnancies and abortions among unmarried adolescents in Nigeria. The findings inform future research directions and guide the development of targeted interventions to improve reproductive health outcomes for this vulnerable population.