To understand the causes and consequences of the rising rates of teenage pregnancy, we utilized the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) dataset to explore various factors, including contraception methods employed across India. Employing Python programming, we conducted a cluster analysis to examine data patterns and similarities. Our investigation aimed to establish a potential causal link between adolescent pregnancy and variables such as age, educational attainment, and internet usage. The findings suggest that higher literacy levels are associated with a reduction in teenage pregnancies. Additionally, teenage pregnancies contribute to an increased risk of anemia among pregnant women aged 15-19. Over the past two decades, the prevalence of anemia among Indian women of reproductive age has been 20% higher than the global average. In India, one in every two women is anemic, exceeding the global ratio of one in every three women. Among pregnant women, the incidence of anemia varies from 33% to 89%, with adolescent girls experiencing a rate exceeding 60%.
Top1. Introduction
Globally, investigations into teenage pregnancy employ both quantitative and qualitative surveys and questionnaires. Many countries prioritize efforts to prevent adolescent pregnancies and enhance newborn health. As indicated by Tripp and Viner (2005), teen pregnancy is more prevalent among those facing financial challenges, with a 60% higher rate of infant mortality and low birth weight compared to infants born to older mothers. Factors contributing to adolescent pregnancy include low literacy, early marriage, unwanted sexual activity due to partner pressure, economic hardship, sexual abuse, insufficient knowledge about contraception methods, hesitancy to use available methods, and fear of acquiring contraceptives, as highlighted by Gipson et al. (2008) and As-Sanie et al. (2004). Conducting thorough research will yield evidence-based insights for health promotion, aiding government agencies in developing targeted initiatives, training programs, and health camps.
Contraception serves as a preventive measure against both pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Adolescents must receive education on contraception to enable informed and health-conscious choices. Curtis et al. (2016) outline various contraceptive options for both women and men, taking into account individual medical conditions and characteristics.
The recent release of the initial data batch from the National Family Health Survey 5 conducted in 2019-20, four years after the previous survey in 2015-16, provides one of the most comprehensive sets of large-scale statistical information on health, family welfare, and emerging issues in this domain. A thorough examination of data from all states reveals a decline in the nutritional status of children under five, with continuous female sterilization being the predominant modern contraception method. There is also a higher prevalence of anemia among women compared to men and an uptick in adolescent pregnancies. Evidence-based reviews derived from this data aid in identifying effective interventions, ensuring optimal resource utilization. It's important to note that these review results are meant for those involved in the development and administration of programs; they do not guide health practitioners on program implementation.
The chapter is organized as follows. Section 2- Materials and Methods include data description, cleaning, and analysis; Section 3- Inferences and Discussions; Section 4- Conclusion.