Were Maureen
Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, P.O. Box 56445, 00200 Nairobi, Kenya.
Econ Hum Biol. 2007 Jul;5(2):322-39. doi: 10.1016/j.ehb.2007.03.005. Epub 2007 Mar 24.
Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest levels of teenage pregnancies in the world. In spite of that, there is paucity of empirical research on causes of teenage pregnancies in African countries. This paper investigates the determinants of teenage pregnancies based on a case study of Busia District in Kenya. The data are from a household survey conducted in 1998/1999. Empirical results indicate that girls' education level has significant influence on the probability of teenage birth, with non-schooling adolescents and those with primary school level education being more vulnerable. Among the variables used as proxies for access to sex education, availability of church forums that educate adolescents about sex and family life issues reduce probability of teenage pregnancy. Age is positively related to teenage pregnancies, with older adolescents being more predisposed to pregnancies. Though use of contraceptives is found to have a positive effect, only a small proportion of adolescents were using modern contraceptives and, supply side factors such as quality and availability were not accounted for. Other key factors as outlined by the adolescents themselves include peer pressure and social environment-related factors like inappropriate forms of recreation, which act as rendezvous for pre-marital sex, as well as lack of parental guidance and counselling. Overall, lack of access to education opportunities, sex education and information regarding contraceptives, as well the widespread poverty predispose girls to teenage pregnancies. The problem of teenage pregnancies should be viewed within the broader socio-economic and socio-cultural environment in which the adolescents operate. For instance, lack of parental guidance on issues of sexuality and sex education was reinforced by cultural taboos that inhibit such discussions. Adolescents should be equipped with the relevant knowledge to enable them make informed choices regarding sexual relationships. This should be complemented with broader programmes aimed at promoting girl education and poverty alleviation.
撒哈拉以南非洲是世界上青少年怀孕率最高的地区之一。尽管如此，非洲国家关于青少年怀孕原因的实证研究却很匮乏。本文基于对肯尼亚布西亚区的案例研究，调查了青少年怀孕的决定因素。数据来自1998/1999年进行的一项家庭调查。实证结果表明，女孩的教育水平对青少年生育概率有显著影响，未上学的青少年和小学教育水平的青少年更容易受到影响。在用作获得性教育替代指标的变量中，有教会论坛向青少年传授性和家庭生活问题知识，这会降低青少年怀孕的概率。年龄与青少年怀孕呈正相关，年龄较大的青少年更容易怀孕。虽然发现使用避孕药具有积极效果，但只有一小部分青少年使用现代避孕药具，而且未考虑质量和可获得性等供应方因素。青少年自己列出的其他关键因素包括同伴压力以及与社会环境相关的因素，如不适当的娱乐形式，这些成为婚前性行为的场所，还有缺乏父母的指导和咨询。总体而言，缺乏受教育机会、性教育和避孕信息，以及普遍存在的贫困使女孩容易发生青少年怀孕。青少年怀孕问题应在青少年所处的更广泛的社会经济和社会文化环境中看待。例如，关于性和性教育问题缺乏父母指导，这因抑制此类讨论的文化禁忌而加剧。应使青少年具备相关知识，以便他们就性关系做出明智选择。这应辅之以旨在促进女童教育和减贫的更广泛方案。
