Discussion
The main aim of this review was to identify and summarize the key risk and protective factors that are associated with adolescent sexual and reproductive health outcomes in devel- oping countries. Most likely because of the HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic, countries in Sub- Saharan Africa are the most studied when it comes to adoles- cent sexual and reproductive outcomes. Among the 222 studies included in the review, nearly 60% were from Sub-Saharan Africa. Also interesting was that most studies focused on exploring the correlates related to condom use and sexual initiation. Signifi- cant gaps in the literature relate to abortion; although there has been an increase over the past decade in studies related to sexual coercion among adolescents, only a limited research base remains. This gap is particularly disturbing, given that nearly 14% of all unsafe abortions in developing countries are among women under age 20 years [64], and in some international settings, up to one third of adolescent women report forced sexual initiation [65].