title: Contraceptive use in adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Failure to use contraceptives contributes to an unacceptably high rate of undesired pregnancy in Sub-Saharan adolescents with associated maternal and neonatal mortality/morbidity. Evidence-based research is needed to understand contraceptive usage in Sub-Saharan adolescents and to enable appropriate allocation of donor resources.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nationally-representative USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) Demographic and Health Surveys from 18 least developed Sub-Saharan African nations.
  
  
  METHODS
  212,819 Sub-Saharan African women (45,054 were 15-19 years old).
  
  
  METHODS
  The percentages of adolescents using contraception, as well as their preferred contraceptive methods and desired family size, were reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  Contraceptive Use, Neonatal Mortality, Undesired Pregnancy, Pregnancy Terminations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most adolescents (92.4%) surveyed reported no contraceptive use, although 21.6% reported recent sexual activity. A current pregnancy was reported in 6.6% (n = 2,951) of adolescents with 29.9% of these pregnancies being unwanted. Many surveyed adolescents (18.8%) had at least one prior birth. A death of the previous child was reported in 6.6% (n = 560) with half of these deaths (n = 276) occurring within the first month of life. Many adolescents planned to delay childbearing for at least two years (37.1%) or were unsure about future timing (33.3%), and 2.2% reported a history of at least one pregnancy termination. Most adolescents (73.1%) felt it would be a problem if they became pregnant. Adolescents indicated injectable medications and contraceptive pills were the preferred future contraceptives at 39.9% and 31.4% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sub-Saharan African adolescents report a mismatch between desire for contraception and use; preferred methods are oral and injectable contraceptives.
authors: Rebekah J
authors: RJ
authors: Mccurdy
authors: Peter F
authors: PF
authors: Schnatz
authors: Paul J
authors: PJ
authors: Weinbaum
authors: Junjia
authors: J
authors: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009042:Motivation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult