Table 1 Search strategy

Database

PubMed, CENTRAL, Science direct, JSTOR, The WHO library, Maternal Surveillance and Response Action Network Google Scholar, Google, Z-library and Sci-Hub.

Language filter

2010 and later

Spatial filter

Africa OR Sub-Saharan Africa

Keywords

1. “Adolescents” OR “Adolescent” OR “Adolescence” OR “Teenage” OR “Teen” OR “Teens” OR “Youth” OR “Youths” OR “Girl” OR “Girls”.

2. “Pregnancy” OR “Childbearing” OR “Pregnancies” OR “Pregnant” OR “Childbirth” OR “Childbirth” OR “Birth” OR “Births”.

3. “Maternal Mortality” OR “Maternal death” OR “Maternal deaths” OR “Perinatal deaths” OR “Neonatal deaths” OR “Perinatal death” OR “Neonatal death” OR “Low birth Weight” OR “Eclampsia” OR “Preeclampsia” OR “Preterm” OR “Premature” OR “Small-for gestational age” OR “Stillbirth” OR “Premature rapture of membrane” OR “Postpartum hemorrhage” OR “Antepartum hemorrhage” OR “Sepsis” OR “Gestational diabetes” OR “Gestational anemia” OR “Apgar score” OR “Cesarean section” OR “Hospital admission” OR “Fetal infections” OR “Prolonged labor” OR “Fetal distress” OR “Respiratory distress” OR “Pelvic Dystocia” OR “Tearing of tissue” OR “Cephalopelvic disproportion” OR “Pregnancy induced hypertension” OR “NICU admission” OR “Asphyxia” OR “Obstructed labor” OR “Assisted delivery”.

4. “Risk factors” OR “dangers” OR “Age” OR “Weight” OR “Obesity” OR “ANC attendance” OR “Hospital bookings” OR “Underweight” OR “Diabetes” OR “Malaria” OR “Sexual Transmitted disease” OR “Sexual transmitted infections” OR “HIV/AIDS” OR” HIV” OR “AIDS” OR “High blood pressure” OR “Autoimmune disease” OR “Kidney disease” OR “Asthma” OR “Multiparity” OR “Gravidity” OR “High order pregnancy” OR “Poor nutritional intake” OR “Anemia” OR “Low level of education” OR “Low socioeconomic status” OR “Low health literacy” OR “Rural dwellers” OR “Rural area” OR “Lack of social support” OR “Stigma” OR “Unskilled birth attendants” OR “Long queues at clinics” OR “Attitude of health workers” OR “Abandonment” OR “Child marriage”.

Inclusion criteria

Papers included were:

a) Conducted in Africa or Sub-Saharan Africa.

b) Conducted on adolescents and reported on adverse pregnancy outcomes and/or associated risks

c) peer-reviews articles, literature reviews, dissertation or grey literature.

d) Reported in English language

e) Conducted 2010 or later.

Exclusion criteria

Papers excluded were:

a) Conducted outside Africa

b) Full-text articles or conference papers that were not available.

c) Studies designed as editorials, letters to editors, commentaries, expert opinions, case reports, and case series.

d) Studies that did not provide reports on adolescents’ adverse pregnancy outcomes and/or associated risk factors.

e) Studies conducted in a language apart from English.

f) Studies completed or published online before 2010.