Cohort Analysis of Adolescent Childbearing and Birth Progression in West-Africa

Ayo Adebowale , University of Ibadan

We examined adolescent childbearing rate and birth progression among 20-49 years old women in four selected countries from West-Africa (Liberia, Gambia, Nigeria and Ghana) using most recent round of Demographic Health Surveys were used. Birth timing probability, birth progression rate (BPR) and hazard ratio were estimated using survival analysis techniques (a=5.0%). Across countries, Adolescent First Birth (AFB) increases as the women’s year of birth cohort increases and the rate was highest among Nigerian women (r=0.773, p<0.001) but lowest in Liberia (r=0.497, p<0.001). Probabilities of surviving adolescent years’ interval without bearing a child were highest in Ghana for all age-cohorts, while Nigeria and Liberia exhibited similar pattern. BPR was higher among women who had AFB than women who started theirs at the later years. Across countries, hazard ratio of AFB was higher among 20-24 than 45-49 years age cohort. Policy that targets pregnancy prevention among adolescent is solicited in the region.

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 Presented in Session 2. Children & Youth