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Table 3 Extracted data

From: Socio-cultural factors influencing adolescent pregnancy in Ghana: a scoping review

Author

Purpose of the study

Design

Study Population

Sample size

Main findings

Conclusion

Appraisal score

[7]

To examine the socio-cultural factors associated with pregnancy among adolescent girls

Case-control

Adolescents (15–19)

400

Religious support for sex before marriage, strictness level of rules and regulations in the family, peer influence, are causes of teenage pregnancy.

Adolescent girls in the KEEA Municipality are likely to experience continuous exposure to the risk of pregnancy with the existence of negative socio-cultural norms.

Moderate

[10]

To investigate the factors associated with adolescent pregnancy

Case control

Adolescent (15 to 19).

245

Adolescents in rural areas and out of school, are more likely to get pregnant.

The study found three major risk factors: place of residence, occupation and economic status, as mainly associated with adolescent pregnancy.

Moderate

[40]

To examine the competencies of adolescent girls to either proactively prevent teenage pregnancy

Cross-sectional survey

Adolescents (15–19).

820

Access to cultural and social capital prevents adolescent pregnancy. Thus, access to sexual education from parents prevents adolescent pregnancy.

Focusing on developing the competencies of girls to access social, economic and cultural capital may be an effective way of tackling the threat of teenage pregnancy than focusing only on their vulnerability and associated risks.

High

[21]

To investigate the perceptions of teenagers and parents toward teenage pregnancy and teenage motherhood in Korle-Gonno

Qualitative

 

40

Lack of reproductive health education, lack of parental control, family and peer pressure, poverty, love for material goods, misinformation on contraception are the common causes of teenage pregnancy.

Unstable marriages, unemployment, lack of sexual reproductive health education, low –income and peer pressure are major factors that cause the high rate of teenage pregnancy in the Korle-Gonno Community.

Moderate

[22]

To assess the effect of teenage pregnancy on achieving universal basic education in Ghana

Mixed method

Teenagers

80

Lack of sex education, poor parenting, poverty, curiosity, dysfunctional family, the decline in cultural practices such as puberty rites and virginity inspection, lack of knowledge on contraception, and sexual abuse are causes of teenage pregnancy.

Teenagers principally depend on sex education from their peers and teenage and teenage pregnancy negatively impedes the goal of achieving universal basic education in Ghana.

Low

[23]

To examine the socio-economic causes of early pregnancy, psychological causes as well as its implications in Talensi.

Mixed-method

Adolescents

 

Family neglect, deaths of parents, lack of sex education, low and contraceptive usage, and peer pressure are the causes of teenage pregnancy.

There are many causal factors to teenage pregnancy such as funerals, mobile phones usage, peer pressure influence, lack of sex education, low usage and inadequate knowledge of contraceptives, family neglect, poverty, ignorance, sexual desire and death of parents.

Moderate

[32]

To explore how sex education could mitigate teenage pregnancy.

Mixed method

Adolescent (13–19) Teachers and head teachers.

139

Poor parenting, poverty, peer influence, concealing sex education and sex knowledge are the major causes of teenage pregnancy.

There is the need for parents and schools to empower the youth through sex education to equip them with knowledge to overcome the potentially corrupt information through the social media and friends.

Moderate

[34]

To understand the perceived decision-making preferences and determinants of early adolescent pregnancy

Qualitative (FGD)

Parents Teachers teenage (mothers and never pregnant 15–19).

56

Lack of parent-daughter communication and taboo in discussing sex related issues at home are the two main causes of teenage pregnancy.

Inadequate and inappropriate communication practices around sexuality issues, as well as weak financial autonomy is the major predictor of early adolescent pregnancy in this community.

High

[24]

To assess adolescents’ knowledge, perception and attitudes of sexual and reproductive health (SRH).

Cross-sectional survey

Adolescent (15–19).

386

Poor educational background, living non-relatives, risky sexual behaviors, perceived support from parents, poor knowledge of sexuality are risk factors for teenage pregnancy.

The findings from the study showed that the teenagers from La did not have much knowledge concerning sexual and reproductive health.

Moderate

[31]

To examine the causes, effects, and prevention of teenage pregnancy among students in Senior High Schools

Cross-sectional survey

Adolescent (15–19)

300

Per influence, lack of sexual education and poverty are the main causes of teenage pregnancy.

Parents should give their children appropriate sex education and sanction them when necessary.

Moderate

[41]

To examine factors associated with teenage pregnancy in Bolgatanga.

Qualitative

Adolescent (14–19).

20

Sexuality remains taboo, sex education in school focus on abstinence messages and the perception that apart from condom all other forms of contraception pose infertility threats.

The need for more open communication on matters of sexuality with young people and the provision of a more comprehensive sexuality education in school to address teenage pregnancies in Ghana.

High

[35]

To identify the factors associated with teenage pregnancy in the Akatsi South District.

Case-control

Adolescents (13–19).

440

Are adolescent marriage is associated with teenage pregnancy.

The study indicated that teenage pregnancy was associated with early adolescent marriage in Akatsi south district and that it was also very common among those with high socioeconomic status.

Moderate

[39]

To examine the knowledge of teenagers in teenage pregnancy and the factors that lead to teenage pregnancy

Cross-sectional

Adolescents (15–20).

20

Lack of sex education, prostitution, early sexual debut are causes of teenage pregnancy.

Teenage pregnancy can lead to several unwanted implications in the life or future of teenage girls, especially in developing countries.

Low

[27]

To examine factors associated with involvement in teenage pregnancy

Cross-sectional

Adolescents (15–19).

481

Early sexual debut and being out of school are significantly associated with teenage pregnancy.

Keeping adolescents enrolled in school might reduce their risk of involvement in pregnancy in the Ejisu- Juabeng.

Moderate

[38]

To understand why students make decisions that lead them into high-risk behavior.

Qualitative

Adolescents (15–19)

96

Peer influence, seeking financial support to stay in school, sex exchange for material things, fewer regards for STIs, and non-use of contraception are the main causes of pregnancy.

Reducing the cost of schooling for girls would reduce their need to enter into high-risk relationships, more work needs to be conducted to empower girls to negotiate their sexual rights to ensure a transition to safer sexual behavior.

Low

[26]

To assess the factors contributing to teenage

pregnancy

Cross-sectional

Adolescent (10–19).

223

Married, out of school, Social media, peer influence, young age, the living situation of parents show a strong association with teenage pregnancy.

Teenage pregnancy is a public health threat in the municipality.

Low

[28]

To identify factors contributing to the rising trend in teenage pregnancy and the resultant effects.

Cross-sectional

Adolescents (10–19)

60

Poverty, no or less sexual and reproductive communication with parents, low level of education, no sexual and reproductive health knowledge, and unsafe sexual behaviors.

The following factors may account for the rising trend in teenage pregnancy in this area: family-related problems, sociocultural factors, low education level, and the lack of adequate knowledge on reproductive health.

Moderate

[29]

To explore factors contributing to repeat pregnancy among teenage mothers with repeat pregnancy.

Qualitative.

Teenagers (15–19) and health workers

41

Low level of education, out-of-school, early marriage, poverty, peer pressure, sexual coercion is the causes of pregnancy. Religious, cultural and stigma prevent teenagers from using contraceptives.

Many teenage mothers are at risk of repeat pregnancy.

High

[30]

To investigate the causes and consequences of teenage pregnancy in Assin-South District

Mixed method

Teenagers (15–19), health workers, TBAs.

102

Poor knowledge on contraceptives, peer pressure, low level of education, poverty and early marriage are causes of teenage pregnancy.

It is therefore recommended that Assin South District Health Directorate should provide much education on the use of contraceptives to teenagers in the district.

Moderate

[42]

To assess the linkages between knowledge, attitudes, and use of contraceptives and adolescent pregnancy in Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem.

Case-control

Adolescent (15–19).

196

Pregnant adolescents Embarrassing process in acquiring contraceptives, the use of traditional contraceptives, contraceptives are for married people, it feels bad to receive contraceptive information from parents and relatives and less likely to use modern contraceptives.

The findings indicate that female adolescents’ use of traditional contraceptives is associated with the risk of pregnancy in KEEA Municipality within the Central Region of Ghana.

Moderate

[33]

To investigate the major predictors of teenage pregnancy in the West Mamprusi.

Mixed-method

Adolescents (12–19 Opinion leader

Adolescents =196

Peer influence, poverty, lack of parental control, inadequate sex education and social media are the main predictors of teenage pregnancy.

 

Low

[25]

To identify the social determinants of non-marital adolescent pregnancy

Cross-sectional

Adolescents (10–19)

242

Low education, peer influence, Poverty and poor parent-adolescent relationship are causes of teenage pregnancy.

Non-marital adolescent pregnancy is relatively high in the Nkwanta South district and is significantly associated with no or low levels of education, poor parental relationship and poor peer relationship.

Moderate