title: Reproductive health of married adolescent women in squatter areas in Alexandria, Egypt.
abstract: Through a house-to-house survey, 455 married adolescent women (< 20 years) and 455 married women aged 20-45 years from squatter areas in Alexandria were interviewed. Determinants of early marriage were consanguinity, illiteracy and unawareness of reproductive health. Of the currently pregnant adolescents, 22% were receiving antenatal care compared with 40% of the older women. Family planning methods were currently being used by 39% of the adolescents and 63% of the older wives. Determinants of non-use were: adolescence, illiteracy and previous miscarriage/stillbirth. There is a need to increase public awareness of reproductive health and change the behaviour of both groups of women in this under-privileged sector.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, High Institute of Public Health, University of Alexandria, Alexandria Egypt.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sallam
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mahfouz
authors.forename: N I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Dabbous
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003241:Consanguinity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D004534:Egypt; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018456:Reproductive Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018454:Spouses / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*