Early motherhood among adolescents in Mbuji-Mayi, Democratic Republic of Congo: Prevalence and Determinants

Teenage motherhood remains a major global public health concern, particularly in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than two million adolescent girls become pregnant each year, leading to serious health, social, and economic consequences. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of teenage motherhood in Mbuji-Mayi, Democratic Republic of Congo. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 1,256 adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 years. A simple multistage sampling method was applied across ten health zones of the city. Data were collected confidentially through KoboCollect after informed consent and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bivariate associations were tested with Chi-square, and multivariate analyses employed binary logistic regression at a 5% significance level. The prevalence of teenage motherhood was 16%. Significant associated factors included being among the eldest children (aOR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.00–2.18), non-schooling (aOR = 25.55; 95% CI: 16.75–38.99), low maternal education (aOR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.13–2.62), and a family history of teenage pregnancy (aOR = 2.27; 95% CI: 1.44–3.59). These findings highlight the urgent need for education, family-based interventions, and targeted reproductive health programs to prevent early motherhood and reduce related morbidity and mortality among adolescents.