@article{10.11648/j.ajbls.20190706.21,
  author = {Rita Muso Fubam and Akin-Tunde Ademola Odukogbe and Magbagbeola David Dairo},
  title = {Psychological and Social Effects of Pregnancy in Unmarried Young Women in Bui, Northwest, Cameroon},
  journal = {American Journal of Biomedical and Life Sciences},
  volume = {7},
  number = {6},
  pages = {190-198},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajbls.20190706.21},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbls.20190706.21},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajbls.20190706.21},
  abstract = {Unmarried status has been associated with low psychological and social wellbeing among young pregnant women, who are very likely to have unintended pregnancies. The current study investigated the psychological and social effects of pregnancy in unmarried young women aged 15 to 24 years in Bui, Northwest Cameroon. It was a cross-sectional facility-based survey and one hundred and eighty-four unmarried young women in six health facilities who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire and analysed with the aid of SPSS 21.0. Univariate analysis was done for frequencies, means and standard deviations while hypotheses were tested using Chi square test and logistic regression. P value was set at p< 0.05. More than half (52.2%) of respondents were aged 20 to 24 years, 54.3% had never used a contraceptive and 82.1% reported their pregnancy was unplanned. Over half (57.1%) of the respondents reported high levels of anxiety and depression related to their pregnancy, 57.6% had a high perception of stigma and discrimination and 61.8% stopped schooling after discovering they were pregnant. Multivariate analysis revealed that compared to those who wanted their pregnancy, those who did not want their pregnancy had higher odds of experiencing high levels of anxiety and depression (AOR 6.38, 95% CI 2.93-13.88, p=0.00). It also showed that those who were not in relationship with their baby’s father had higher odds of perceiving high levels of stigma and discrimination (AOR 2.22, 95% CI 1.07-4.62, p=0.03). In conclusion, policy makers should intensify efforts to prevent unintended pregnancy among young unmarried women. They should not concentrate all efforts toward preventing unsafe abortion due to unwanted pregnancy, but focus attention also on how to help young women who choose to keep their pregnancy. Adequate and multidisciplinary supervision and support during pregnancy, labour and postpartum period will help promote psychosocial wellbeing among this group. The male partners of pregnant young women should also be empowered to take responsibility.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Psychological and Social Effects of Pregnancy in Unmarried Young Women in Bui, Northwest, Cameroon
AU  - Rita Muso Fubam
AU  - Akin-Tunde Ademola Odukogbe
AU  - Magbagbeola David Dairo
Y1  - 2019/12/31
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbls.20190706.21
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajbls.20190706.21
T2  - American Journal of Biomedical and Life Sciences
JF  - American Journal of Biomedical and Life Sciences
JO  - American Journal of Biomedical and Life Sciences
SP  - 190
EP  - 198
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-880X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbls.20190706.21
AB  - Unmarried status has been associated with low psychological and social wellbeing among young pregnant women, who are very likely to have unintended pregnancies. The current study investigated the psychological and social effects of pregnancy in unmarried young women aged 15 to 24 years in Bui, Northwest Cameroon. It was a cross-sectional facility-based survey and one hundred and eighty-four unmarried young women in six health facilities who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire and analysed with the aid of SPSS 21.0. Univariate analysis was done for frequencies, means and standard deviations while hypotheses were tested using Chi square test and logistic regression. P value was set at p< 0.05. More than half (52.2%) of respondents were aged 20 to 24 years, 54.3% had never used a contraceptive and 82.1% reported their pregnancy was unplanned. Over half (57.1%) of the respondents reported high levels of anxiety and depression related to their pregnancy, 57.6% had a high perception of stigma and discrimination and 61.8% stopped schooling after discovering they were pregnant. Multivariate analysis revealed that compared to those who wanted their pregnancy, those who did not want their pregnancy had higher odds of experiencing high levels of anxiety and depression (AOR 6.38, 95% CI 2.93-13.88, p=0.00). It also showed that those who were not in relationship with their baby’s father had higher odds of perceiving high levels of stigma and discrimination (AOR 2.22, 95% CI 1.07-4.62, p=0.03). In conclusion, policy makers should intensify efforts to prevent unintended pregnancy among young unmarried women. They should not concentrate all efforts toward preventing unsafe abortion due to unwanted pregnancy, but focus attention also on how to help young women who choose to keep their pregnancy. Adequate and multidisciplinary supervision and support during pregnancy, labour and postpartum period will help promote psychosocial wellbeing among this group. The male partners of pregnant young women should also be empowered to take responsibility.
VL  - 7
IS  - 6
ER  - 

Copy | Download