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. 2017 Dec 6;6(1):247.
doi: 10.1186/s13643-017-0650-0.

Prevalence, predictors and adverse outcomes of adolescent pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa: a protocol of a systematic review

Carlson-Babila Sama  1   2 , Stewart Ndutard Ngasa  3   4   5 , Bonaventure Suiru Dzekem  3   6   7 , Simeon-Pierre Choukem  8   9
Affiliations

Prevalence, predictors and adverse outcomes of adolescent pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa: a protocol of a systematic review

Carlson-Babila Sama et al. Syst Rev. .

Abstract

Background: Several studies have reported on factors influencing adolescent pregnancies and the associated outcomes, but evidence from a systematic review is limited, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the greater burden lies. Establishment of accurate epidemiological data on the rates of adolescent pregnancy, its predictors, and adverse outcomes (maternal and neonatal) may have important implications towards attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Methods: This will be a systematic review of studies reporting predictors of adolescent pregnancy and adverse outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa published between January 2000 and December 2017. The following databases will be searched: PubMed/MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), SCOPUS, Popline, Africa Wide Information, African Index Medicus, Google scholar and the Cochrane library. Three authors will independently screen all potential articles for eligibility as guided by the selection criteria. The Stata statistical software will be used in analysing the data. Appropriate meta-analytic techniques will be used to pool prevalence estimates from studies with similar features, overall and by major subgroups as warranted. Heterogeneity of studies will be evaluated by the χ 2 test on Cochrane's Q statistic. Publication bias will be sorted for using funnel plot analysis and Egger's test. Qualitative synthesis will be used where data are insufficient to produce a quantitative synthesis. This protocol is reported according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 guidelines.

Discussion: This systematic review and meta-analysis is expected to serve as a template for designing adolescent-friendly preventive and control programmes to help curb the ever-growing burden of adolescent pregnancies, and as a guide for future research.

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42017070773.

Keywords: Adolescent; Africa; Outcome; Pregnancy; Prevalence; Systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Given that this study is based on already published data, a formal ethical approval will not be required.

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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References

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    1. World Health Organization. Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development. Adolescent pregnancy – Unmet needs and undone deeds. A review of the literature and programmes. 2007. http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/43702/1/9789241595650_eng.pdf. Accessed 15 July 2017.
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