Abstract
BACKGROUND: Childbearing under the age of 20 is referred to as teenage childbearing. Compared to high-income countries, it is significantly higher in low-income countries. Adolescent childbearing is influenced by a number of variables, including economic, demographic, and social factors, and these vary geographically. Thus, this study aimed to determine the predictors of adolescent childbearing among Ethiopian women with spatial effect adjustment. METHODS: A total weighted sample of 4712 women aged 15 to 49 were included. The data were obtained from the 2019 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey. A generalized Geoadditive model which accounts for spatial effect and the non-linear effect of continuous variables was adopted to determine the associated factors of adolescent childbearing among Ethiopian women. RESULTS: The spatial pattern of adolescent childbearing was non-random in Ethiopia with Moran's index statistics 1.731999 (P-value < 0.001). Based on the evidence of spatial variation in a model, the highest risk of adolescent childbearing was observed in Jijiga, Shinilie, Welwel and Walder, Afar (Zone1 and Zone 5), Assosa, Metekel, and Gambela (Zone1). We also noted that women not intending to use a contraceptive method, Muslim religion, living in a rural area, and large household family size were significantly associated with a high risk of adolescent childbearing. Furthermore, our model results also confirmed that higher educational levels, older household age, and good economic status significantly reduced the risk of adolescent childbearing. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that adolescent childbearing distribution was significantly clustered in the Eastern and Southwestern parts of Ethiopia. Intervention programs aimed at the prevention of early marriage and raising awareness of sexual activity are essential to reducing adolescent childbearing.