Study: Teenage Pregnancy

Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated in 2018 that Brazil has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy among Latin American countries. Alagoas is the state with the most alarming rate of pregnancies at age 15. Coincidentally, this is the state with the highest illiteracy rate in Brazil, according to the IBGE, where only 33.7% of people aged 25 or older have completed at least basic mandatory education.

To analyze this data in a more current context and with the aim of identifying the consequences in the lives of these young mothers, including professional opportunities, family support, and the involvement of the child's father, Trocando Fraldas carried out this study to revisit the subject, but with a deeper analysis of the potential impact of these numbers when confirmed.

Questions

The following questions were addressed:

1. In which state do you live?
2. Did you have children at 18 or younger?
3. How old were you when you had your first child?
4. Do you think it was too soon?
5. Were you using any contraceptive method?
6. Did you manage to finish high school?
7. Do you consider your teenage pregnancy a professional disadvantage?
8. Were you able to count on family support to care for the child?
9. Does the child's father take care of the child?
10. Are you still in a relationship with the child's father?

Results

To compare results between regions and states, the answers to affirmative questions were counted as numbers, 1 for "Yes" and 0 for "No".

The results can be seen in the charts below:

• The highest early pregnancy rate by age group is at age 18.
• Girls aged 18 were the least likely to use contraceptive methods, at 31%. On the other hand, girls aged 13 were the most likely to use contraceptive methods, at 51%.

• Regarding whether they feel it was too early to get pregnant, the group of girls who became pregnant at 14 years old responded "yes" the most.
• 64% of those who felt they became pregnant too soon received family support after childbirth.

• 69% of those who got pregnant at age 18 were not using contraceptives.
• The state of Amapá led with the highest rate of girls not using contraceptive methods. In contrast, the state of Roraima, also in the same region, showed that the respondents made the most use of contraceptives, at 67%.

• 45% of pregnant women who did not have the support of the child's father managed to finish high school.
• 48% of the pregnant teenagers who did not have the support of their family did not complete high school.

• 60% of those who stated their career was not negatively affected finished high school.
• Only 35% of those who felt disadvantaged could count on family support after childbirth.

• Of the mothers who did not have the father's support, 44% were girls who became pregnant at age 14.
• The majority of those who could count on the father's support were aged 18.

• The majority of those who maintained a relationship with the child's father were 18 years old, at 67%.
• Girls who became pregnant at 14 years old formed the majority among those who did not stay in a relationship with the baby's father.

• Alagoas turned out to be the state where mothers can count the least on the fathers. Coincidentally, this state also leads in high rates of teenage pregnancy.

Research Method

The study was nationwide and was conducted with nearly 1,500 respondents between July 29 and August 2, 2019. Data collection was carried out via an online questionnaire form.