Title:
Adolescent Pregnancy in Mozambique: Determinants, Interventions and Future Directions
Authors:
Dekker, Flor
Year:
2014
PAGE:
xi, 48
Language:
En
Subject:
Maternal Health – Lessons Learned
Keywords:
Adolescent, Pregnancy, Determinants, Sexuality, Sexual Relationships, Mozambique
Abstract:
Background With the highest rates of adolescent pregnancy in the region (167 live births per 1000 15-19 year old females) and a fast growing number of adolescents, Mozambique faces a far-reaching public health problem, which sets it off target attaining the Millennium Development Goals. In addition, despite the country’s successful sexual and reproductive health programme for young people, ‘Projeto Geração Biz’, fertility rates among 10-19 year old girls have not shown considerable decline in the past 15 years. Numerous context-specific factors determine girls’ pregnancy risks and strategies at mitigating such risks are only effective if they take such factors into account. However, no comprehensive studies of such factors or determinants have yet been carried out in Mozambique. Methodology Aided by Blum’s ecological social determinants model of pregnancy risk, this study has made a wide-ranging analysis of determinants of Mozambique’s adolescent pregnancy, drawing data from a comprehensive literature review of material published between 2009 and 2014, including English and Portuguese articles, policy papers and reports. Results and Discussion Adolescent pregnancy in Mozambique is perpetuated by such factors as gender inequalities, poverty, lack of adequate schooling, child marriage, cross-generational and transactional sexual relationships, low levels of female-controlled contraception, inadequate parent-child communication on sexuality and absence of safe spaces for girls, in addition to technical and managerial complexities involved in delivering adequate measures and programmes. Because adolescent pregnancy in Mozambique seems to be a symptom of such underlying determinants, multilevel interventionist measures focusing on girls’ empowerment, poverty reduction and adequate schooling are probably more effective than interventions solely aimed at lowering adolescent fertility rates per se. Conclusion and Recommendations: Due to the complexity of the determinants, budgetary constraints, the vastness of the country and the interplay of numerous other sexual and reproductive health programmes, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to adolescent pregnancy in Mozambique. However, there is an urgent need to include 10-14 year olds in the demographic health survey and other sexual and reproductive health studies. In addition, it is recommended that: strategies to tackle chronic supply constraints in public schools, gender inequalities and adolescent unemployment encompass current national programmes; the point of focus of sexuality education shift towards a more positive approach towards adolescent sexuality; female-controlled contraceptives be made easily available for all sexually active girls; compulsory registration of all marriages be implemented and a strong enforcement of the Family Law Act be aspired to; married girls be paid special attention in terms of sexuality education and birth spacing; and cherishing neighbourhoods be fostered and safe girls’ spaces created.
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
,
VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
Country:
Mozambique
Region:
Southeastern Africa
Training:
Master in International Health (MIH)
Category:
Research
Right:
© 2014 Dekker
Document type:
Thesis/dissertation
File:
5cCEe1QXdk_20161103163327771.pdf