Repeated adolescent pregnancy in Brazil from 2015 to 2019

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the rate of repeated pregnancy in adolescence and its association with early marriage and education level. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted by searching the Live Births Data System. The study included all adolescents in the age group 10-19 years with live births from 2015 to 2019 (n=2,405,248), divided into three groups: G1: primiparas; G2: with 1 previous pregnancy; and G3: with two or more previous pregnancies. RESULTS: Total repeated pregnancies remained stable, along the years. In the age group 10-14 years, the decrease in the period was from 5.0 to 4.7%, whereas in the age group 15-19 years, it was from 27.8 to 27.3%. Being married or in a stable union increases by 96% the chance of repeated pregnancy in the age group 10-14 years (p<0.001; OR=1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.85-2.09). In the age group 15-19 years, the chance of repeated pregnancy among the married or in stable union increased 40% (p<0.001; OR=1.40; 95%CI 1.39-1.41)). Girls aged 10-14 years with an education level of<8 years had a 64% higher chance of repeated pregnancy (p<0.001; OR=1.64; 95%CI 1.53-1.75), and among those aged 15-19 years, there was a 137% higher chance of repeated pregnancy (p<0.001; OR=2.37; 95%CI 2.35-2.38). CONCLUSION: Repeated pregnancy in adolescence in Brazil remains very high over the years. There is an association between low education level and early marriage with repeated pregnancies in adolescence.

Automated summary

The aim of this study was to assess the rate of repeated pregnancy in adolescence and its association with early marriage and education level. The study found that the rate of repeated pregnancies among Brazilian adolescents remains high, with rates of 4.7% in the 10-14 age group and 27.3% in the 15-19 age group. Being married or in a stable union increased the likelihood of repeated pregnancy by 96% in the 10-14 age group and by 40% in the 15-19 age group. Additionally, lower education level and early marriage were associated with increased likelihood of repeated pregnancies in adolescence.