Background: Unplanned adolescent pregnancies present significant health challenges in Nigeria, leading to school dropouts, unsafe abortions, and maternal mortality. Limited reproductive health services, sexual violence, and cultural barriers exacerbate these issues. This review examines the prevalence, perceptions, and factors influencing unplanned pregnancies among Nigerian youths aged 10–24 years. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar for studies published between 2018 and 2023. Non-interventional descriptive studies were included. Study quality was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute checklists, and findings were summarized narratively. From 1466 records, 19 studies totaling 49 704 participants were included in the review, mostly published in 2022. Results: Results showed a declining prevalence of adolescent pregnancies, with the highest rates in Northern Nigeria. Factors associated with reduced pregnancy rates included delayed sexual debut, school attendance, adequate parenting, youth-friendly institutional support, improved socioeconomic status, and access to information and communication technology. Adolescents who experienced unplanned pregnancies were less likely to receive maternal health services or skilled birth attendance, facing heightened risks of iron deficiency anemia, low-birth-weight deliveries, stress, shame, and depression. While the overall prevalence of adolescent pregnancies is decreasing, regional disparities persist. Conclusion: The findings highlight the role of improving sexual education, healthcare access, and youth-friendly services to mitigate unplanned adolescent pregnancies and associated health risks. Targeted interventions are crucial to addressing these challenges and promoting better outcomes for Nigerian adolescents.
Femi-Lawal et al. (Tue,) studied this question.