FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY AMONG MARRIED ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN PAKISTAN: SECONDARY ANALYSIS OF DATA FROM PAKISTAN DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY

Abstract

Background: Child marriage exposes girls to increased health problems and violence, denies them access to social networks and support systems, and perpetuates a cycle of poverty and gender inequality. Termination of pregnancies can be the consequence of teenage pregnancy. This study aims to find the association of factors in teenage mothers that lead to termination of pregnancy.

Material and Methods: The sample of 5694 women 10-17 years of age was selected from Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2012-2013.

Results: It was considered that women married as children had more risk of termination of pregnancy. Out of the total, 37% of women married as children experienced termination of pregnancy. A higher number of women married as children were poor, uneducated and living in rural areas. This indicates that child marriages are a huge concern for Pakistan and drastically increased risk of maternal morbidity and mortality.

Conclusion: Despite early age and social inequity other factors such as the experience of violence, blood relation with husband, few antenatal visits, low education level and employment status of women has a profound effect on termination of pregnancy