Reproductive health of married adolescent women in squatter areas in Alexandria, Egypt
Sallam, S.A.; Mahfouz, A.A.; Dabbous, N.I.
Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal 7(6): 935-942
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 1020-3397 PMID: 15332735 Document Number: 525623
Through a house-to-house survey, 455 married adolescent women (< 20 years) and 455 married women aged 20-45 years from squatter areas in Alexandria were interviewed. Determinants of early marriage were consanguinity, illiteracy and unawareness of reproductive health. Of the currently pregnant adolescents, 22% were receiving antenatal care compared with 40% of the older women. Family planning methods were currently being used by 39% of the adolescents and 63% of the older wives. Determinants of non-use were: adolescence, illiteracy and previous miscarriage/stillbirth. There is a need to increase public awareness of reproductive health and change the behaviour of both groups of women in this under-privileged sector.