EARLY MARRIAGE, EARLY MORTALITY? ASSESSING MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH OUTCOMES OF TEENAGE PREGNANCIES IN BAUCHI

Abstract

This study investigates the maternal and child health outcomes associated with teenage pregnancies in Bauchi State, Nigeria—a region with one of the country's highest rates of early marriage. Employing a cross-sectional mixed-methods design, the research gathered quantitative data from 300 teenage mothers and qualitative insights from healthcare providers and community leaders across three Local Government Areas. Findings reveal that over half (52.3%) of teenage mothers experienced complications such as prolonged labor and anemia, with only 36% receiving the WHO-recommended four or more antenatal care visits. Child health outcomes were similarly alarming: 31.3% of newborns had low birth weight, 56% were incompletely immunized, and the neonatal mortality rate reached 8.7%. A statistically significant association was found between age at first marriage and adverse health outcomes, with girls married before age 15 facing higher risks. The study identifies sociocultural norms, limited education, and inadequate adolescent-friendly health services as key drivers of poor outcomes. It concludes that early marriage significantly compromises maternal and neonatal health, emphasizing the need for strengthened legal enforcement, expanded youth health services, and community-based interventions that promote delayed marriage and girls’ education.