Lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescents in Africa: A scoping review
Abstract Background Previous studies have not synthesized existing literature on the lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescents (aged 10–19) in Africa. Such evidence synthesis is needed to inform policies, programs, and future research to improve the well-being of the millions of pregna...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Reproductive Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-023-01654-4 |
| _version_ | 1797452447077105664 |
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| author | Anthony Idowu Ajayi Sherine Athero Winstoun Muga Caroline W. Kabiru |
| author_facet | Anthony Idowu Ajayi Sherine Athero Winstoun Muga Caroline W. Kabiru |
| author_sort | Anthony Idowu Ajayi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Previous studies have not synthesized existing literature on the lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescents (aged 10–19) in Africa. Such evidence synthesis is needed to inform policies, programs, and future research to improve the well-being of the millions of pregnant or parenting adolescents in the region. Our study fills this gap by reviewing the literature on pregnant and parenting adolescents in Africa. We mapped existing research in terms of their substantive focus, and geographical distribution. We synthesized these studies based on thematic focus and identified gaps for future research. Methods We used a three-step search strategy to find articles, theses, and technical reports reporting primary research published in English between January 2000 and June 2021 in PubMed, Jstor, AJOL, EBSCO Host, and Google Scholar. Three researchers screened all articles, including titles, abstracts, and full text, for eligibility. Relevant data were extracted using a template designed for the study. Overall, 116 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive and thematic analyses. Results Research on pregnant and parenting adolescents is limited in volume and skewed to a few countries, with two-fifths of papers focusing on South Africa (41.4%). Most of the studies were African-led (81.9%), received no funding (60.3%), adopted qualitative designs (58.6%), and were published between 2016 and 2021 (48.3%). The studies highlighted how pregnancy initiates a cycle of social exclusion of girls with grave implications for their physical and mental health and social and economic well-being. Only 4.3% of the studies described an intervention. None of these studies employed a robust research design (e.g., randomized controlled trial) to assess the intervention’s effectiveness. Adolescent mothers' experiences (26.7%) and their education (36.2%) were the most studied topics, while repeat pregnancy received the least research attention. Conclusion Research on issues affecting pregnant and parenting adolescents is still limited in scope and skewed geographically despite the large burden of adolescent childbearing in many African countries. While studies have documented how early pregnancy could result in girls' social and educational exclusion, few interventions to support pregnant and parenting adolescents exist. Further research to address these gaps is warranted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:08:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-781938661afc490e944adee281560f6e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1742-4755 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:08:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Reproductive Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-781938661afc490e944adee281560f6e2023-11-26T13:30:39ZengBMCReproductive Health1742-47552023-08-0120111310.1186/s12978-023-01654-4Lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescents in Africa: A scoping reviewAnthony Idowu Ajayi0Sherine Athero1Winstoun Muga2Caroline W. Kabiru3Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, New-Born, Child, and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH) Unit, African Population and Health Research CenterSexual, Reproductive, Maternal, New-Born, Child, and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH) Unit, African Population and Health Research CenterSexual, Reproductive, Maternal, New-Born, Child, and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH) Unit, African Population and Health Research CenterSexual, Reproductive, Maternal, New-Born, Child, and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH) Unit, African Population and Health Research CenterAbstract Background Previous studies have not synthesized existing literature on the lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescents (aged 10–19) in Africa. Such evidence synthesis is needed to inform policies, programs, and future research to improve the well-being of the millions of pregnant or parenting adolescents in the region. Our study fills this gap by reviewing the literature on pregnant and parenting adolescents in Africa. We mapped existing research in terms of their substantive focus, and geographical distribution. We synthesized these studies based on thematic focus and identified gaps for future research. Methods We used a three-step search strategy to find articles, theses, and technical reports reporting primary research published in English between January 2000 and June 2021 in PubMed, Jstor, AJOL, EBSCO Host, and Google Scholar. Three researchers screened all articles, including titles, abstracts, and full text, for eligibility. Relevant data were extracted using a template designed for the study. Overall, 116 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive and thematic analyses. Results Research on pregnant and parenting adolescents is limited in volume and skewed to a few countries, with two-fifths of papers focusing on South Africa (41.4%). Most of the studies were African-led (81.9%), received no funding (60.3%), adopted qualitative designs (58.6%), and were published between 2016 and 2021 (48.3%). The studies highlighted how pregnancy initiates a cycle of social exclusion of girls with grave implications for their physical and mental health and social and economic well-being. Only 4.3% of the studies described an intervention. None of these studies employed a robust research design (e.g., randomized controlled trial) to assess the intervention’s effectiveness. Adolescent mothers' experiences (26.7%) and their education (36.2%) were the most studied topics, while repeat pregnancy received the least research attention. Conclusion Research on issues affecting pregnant and parenting adolescents is still limited in scope and skewed geographically despite the large burden of adolescent childbearing in many African countries. While studies have documented how early pregnancy could result in girls' social and educational exclusion, few interventions to support pregnant and parenting adolescents exist. Further research to address these gaps is warranted.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-023-01654-4Social exclusionChallengesLived experiencesPregnant and parenting adolescentsAdolescent mothersGirls empowerment |
| spellingShingle | Anthony Idowu Ajayi Sherine Athero Winstoun Muga Caroline W. Kabiru Lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescents in Africa: A scoping review Reproductive Health Social exclusion Challenges Lived experiences Pregnant and parenting adolescents Adolescent mothers Girls empowerment |
| title | Lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescents in Africa: A scoping review |
| title_full | Lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescents in Africa: A scoping review |
| title_fullStr | Lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescents in Africa: A scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescents in Africa: A scoping review |
| title_short | Lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescents in Africa: A scoping review |
| title_sort | lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescents in africa a scoping review |
| topic | Social exclusion Challenges Lived experiences Pregnant and parenting adolescents Adolescent mothers Girls empowerment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-023-01654-4 |
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