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A systematic review of risk factors for neonatal mortality in adolescent mother's in Sub Saharan Africa
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

A systematic review of risk factors for neonatal mortality in adolescent mother's in Sub Saharan Africa

Astha Ramaiya, Ligia Kiss, Paula Baraitser, Godfrey Mbaruku and Zoe Hildon
BMC research notes, v 7(1), pp 750-750
23 Oct 2014
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-7-750
PMID: 25338679
url
https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-7-750View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)CC BY V4.0,  Open

Abstract

Adolescent Adult Africa South of the Sahara - epidemiology African Continental Ancestry Group Comorbidity Educational Status Female Humans Infant Infant Mortality - ethnology Infant, Newborn Maternal Age Odds Ratio Pregnancy Pregnancy in Adolescence - ethnology Risk Factors Single-Parent Family - ethnology Time Factors Young Adult
Worldwide, approximately 14 million mothers aged 15 - 19 years give birth annually. The number of teenage births in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) is particularly high with an estimated 50% of mothers under the age of 20. Adolescent mothers have a significantly higher risk of neonatal mortality in comparison to adults. The objective of this review was to compare perinatal/neonatal mortality in Sub Saharan Africa and it's associated risk factors between adolescents and adults. We systematically searched six databases to determine risk factors for perinatal/neonatal mortality, and pregnancy outcomes, between adolescent and adults in SSA. Article's quality was assessed and synthesized as a narrative. Being single and having a single parent household is more prevalent amongst adolescents than adults. Nearly all the adolescent mothers (97%) were raised in single parent households. These single life factors could be interconnected and catalyze other risky behaviors. Accordingly, having co-morbidities such as Sexually Transmitted Infections, or not going to school was more prevalent in younger mothers. Inter-generational support for single mothers in SSA communities appears essential in preventing both early pregnancies and ensuring healthy outcomes when they occur during adolescence. Future studies should test related hypothesis and seek to unpack the processes that underpin the relationships between being single and other risk indicators for neonatal mortality in young mothers. Current policy initiatives should account for the context of single African women's lives, low opportunity, status and little access to supportive relationships, or practical help.

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