title: ASSESSMENT OF THE MAGNITUDE OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG TEENAGE FEMALES VISITING ASSOSA GENERAL HOSPITAL.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Teenage pregnancy is directly related to high incidence of pregnancy related complications contributing to maternal morbidity and mortality and social problems. There are no enough data on teenage pregnancy and related complications in Ethiopia and in Benishangul Gumuz region in particular.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the magnitude and factors associated with teenage pregnancy among teenage females visiting Assosa general hospital for health care services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Facility-based quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out among 783 randomly selected teenage females using structured and pre-tested questionnaire from January to April 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Teenage pregnancy is estimated at 20.4% in this study. The median age of subjects at first sexual intercourse and at first marriage being 16 and 17 years respectively. High proportion of (46.8%) teenagers had engaged in premarital sex. Among sexually active teenage females, 46.7% experienced their first sexual encounter by coercion. Being young [AOR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.06-0.67], single [AOR = 0.06, 95% CI = 0.03-0.12], housemaid [AOR = 3.93, 95% CI = 1.71-9.04] and use of family planning [AOR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.20-4.75] have statistically significant association with teenage pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A range offactors including age, marital status, level of education, occupational status, average family income and use of family planning have influence on teenage pregnancy in the study area. Behavioral change communication, strengthening school health program, empowering young women specifically the rural women, and promoting parent-children discussion on sexuality is recommended.
authors.forename: Assefa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beyene
authors.forename: Abiyou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muhiye
authors.forename: Yeneneh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Getachew
authors.forename: Abiy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hiruye
authors.forename: Damen Haile
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Mariam
authors.forename: Millard
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Derbew
authors.forename: Dereje
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mammo
authors.forename: Fikre
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Enquselassie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D017533:Marital Status; D009790:Occupations; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*