Factors Associated with Pregnancy among Primigravida Adolescents at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital

Abstract

Background: Adolescent pregnancy has become an important health issue in Thailand. It is not only a health problem for the mother and child but it is also associated with socioeconomic and demographic implications. Objective: To study factors associated with pregnancy among primigravida adolescents. Setting: Postpartum ward at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital Material and Method: The case control study of 110 adolescents under 20 years of age (55 adolescent with pregnancy and 55 nonpregnant adolescents from the 1st of July to the 31st of August, 2009. Gases and controls were matched by aged and socioeconomic. Associated factors with pregnancy were frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, relative risk and odds ratio were used to test the association between these variables with a = 0.05. Results: The results showed that there were 7 factors significantly associated with adolescent pregnancy. They were occupation (housewife) OR = 5.13 (95% CI 2.26, 11.62), level of education (secondary) OR = 4.6 (95% CI 2.08, 10.48), grade point average (GPA < 2.00) OR = 3.75 (95% CI 1.26, 11.20), staying with a friend or husband OR = 2.98 (95% CI 1.30, 6.86), personality (self-confident) OR = 2.23 (95% CI 1.02, 5.28), low family income (< 8.000 Baht/ month) OR-2.44 (95% CI 1.13, 5.25) and low level of sexual knowledge OR = 3.89 (95% CI 1.76, 8.59) Conclusion: Socioeconomic situations were significantly associated with pregnancy among adolescents. From the previously mentioned associated factors, it can be concluded that prevention should begin at home and then involve schools, teachers and friends.