Background:Teenage pregnancies are associated
with negative obstetric, foetal outcomes and
social consequences.
Aim: The present study aimed at identifying risk
factors for teenage pregnancies.
Methods and material:This was a community
based comparative study conducted in three
districts of Colombo, Anuradhapura and Batticaloa
in Sri Lanka. For each of the 510 pregnant
teenagers, 508 age matched non-pregnant
females were identified from the neighbourhood.
Information related to individual level, family level
and societal level risk factors were collected by
trained interviewers using a structured pre-tested.
Risk factors were assessed in univariate and
multivariate analyses.
Results: Tamil (OR=3.31) and Muslim (OR=1.92)
ethnicity were predictors of teenage pregnancy.
Lower level of formal education (OR=1.95) and
lack of knowledge on disadvantages of teenage