Contraception and Conception among Young Single Women: An International Comparison

Mohamed Ali, World Health Organization (WHO)
Neeru Gupta, World Health Organization (WHO)
Iuri da Costa Leite, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública

While overall declines in teenage fertility have been well documented for much of the developing world, wide variations persist at the regional and national levels, and across social groups. Addressing the reproductive and sexual health needs of young people in the context of rapid and profound changes remains challenging. This paper offers an analysis of differentials in fertility, its determinants and impacts among young single women, with a focus on variances across countries and regions. Data are drawn from the relatively less-exploited “calendar” module from the Demographic and Health Surveys for 17 countries. Multiple regression analyses are used to test substantive hypotheses about the correlates of sexual and reproductive health outcomes among women who were aged 15-24 and never married during the calendar period. Identifying the predictors of sexual activity, contraceptive use and conception rates could assist policymakers in creating programmes aimed at improving reproductive health care for young women.