بررسی وضعیت سلامت باروری مادران نوجوان

عنوان انگليسی

Reproductive health status of adolescent mothers in an Iranian setting: a cross‑sectional study

خلاصه انگلیسی

Plain language summary In LMICs, the health status of adolescent mothers remains unstudied in a systematic way. This study aims to evaluate the reproductive health of married adolescent mothers. A cross-sectional study of adolescent mothers was conducted at five Ardabil health centers. A total of 312 adolescent mothers under the age of 19 were selected to complete a survey regarding their health and contraceptive awareness. The mothers' reproductive health status was rated as average. Age, education, husband's age and education, gravida, and contraceptive methods significantly impacted reproductive health. Increased education among women and their spouses, as well as pregnancy prevention, appear to be essential for safeguarding the health of adolescent mothers. This study recommends conducting qualitative research on reproductive health and contraception in the cultural context. Background In low and middle-income countries (LMICs), where millions of women give birth before the age of 18, the reproductive health status of married adolescent mothers, including family planning, sexual, psychosocial, and maternal health, remains a significant and recurring phenomenon. As a result, the purpose of this study was to assess the reproductive health status of married adolescent mothers who sought treatment at Ardabil health care centers in 2019. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in five health centers in Ardabil, Iran. This research included 312 married adolescent mothers who were under 19 years old. Health workers who asked questions of each participant completed a demographic questionnaire and the Reproductive Health Assessment Scale for Married Adolescent Women, and all data were self-reported. Univariate and multivariate linear regressions were used to determine risk factors associated with reproductive health scores. The data was examined using statistical software (SPSS version 20). Results The mean age (years) of the respondents was 16.41 +/- 0.85, the mean age of their husbands was 24.18 +/- 2.29, and the mean age of their marriage was 15.06 +/- 1.15. In this study, adolescent mothers had an average reproductive health score of 63.78 +/- 11.06. There was a significant association between reproductive health status and age, education, husband's age and education, and contraceptive methods among married adolescent mothers (p < 0.05). Conclusion The research findings indicated that adolescent mothers had an average level of reproductive health. Several socio-demographic characteristics, including age, education, gravida, and contraception, were linked to reproductive health scores. Programmers and policymakers should prioritize improving the reproductive health of adolescent mothers through education and increasing women's and spouses' knowledge and awareness.

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