[ Facteurs favorisants les grossesses précoces chez les adolescentes du quartier Leproserie, Aire de santé Mopela, Zone de santé rurale de Bwamanda, Province du Sud Ubangi, RDC ]
Volume 47, Issue 2, December 2025, Pages 147–155
Makongo Malaka Frederick1, MAMBESA BAINAMBOKA Martin2, MANGI BENDE Maurice3, MOMBELA IBELE Désiré4, WEBINA SANA Clarice5, and Bokango Bapoti Thomas6
1 ISTM Gemena, Province de Sud Ubangi, RD Congo
2 Licencié en sciences infirmières/EASI, RD Congo
3 Licencié en sciences infirmières/EASI, RD Congo
4 ISTM GEMENA, RD Congo
5 Chef de Travaux, ISTM Gemena, Province du Sud-Ubangi, RD Congo
6 Assistant à l’ISTM Gemena, Sud-Ubangi, RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2025 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Early pregnancy in school settings remains a major public health and social concern in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in rural areas affected by socioeconomic challenges. Although pregnancy is not a disease, its occurrence among adolescents is often unintended and has serious consequences for health, education, and social integration. This study aimed to identify factors associated with early pregnancy among adolescents in the Léproserie neighborhood, located in the Mopela health area within the rural health zone of Bwamanda (South Ubangi). A cross-sectional study was conducted between July and September 2023 using field surveys and interpersonal interviews. A non-probability sampling method included 59 participants (43 girls and 16 boys) who had experienced pregnancy or fatherhood before the age of 18. The results indicate that most adolescents initiated sexual activity between the ages of 13 and 15, while regular condom use was low. The main reasons for non-use included perceived loss of sexual pleasure, partner refusal, and cultural or religious constraints. The findings highlight the combined influence of socio-cultural, economic, and educational factors, compounded by limited access to sexual and reproductive health information. The study underscores the need to strengthen comprehensive sexuality education, encourage parental involvement, and improve access to reproductive health services to reduce early pregnancies among school-aged adolescents.
Author Keywords: early pregnancy, adolescents, sexual behavior, condom use, reproductive health.
Volume 47, Issue 2, December 2025, Pages 147–155
Makongo Malaka Frederick1, MAMBESA BAINAMBOKA Martin2, MANGI BENDE Maurice3, MOMBELA IBELE Désiré4, WEBINA SANA Clarice5, and Bokango Bapoti Thomas6
1 ISTM Gemena, Province de Sud Ubangi, RD Congo
2 Licencié en sciences infirmières/EASI, RD Congo
3 Licencié en sciences infirmières/EASI, RD Congo
4 ISTM GEMENA, RD Congo
5 Chef de Travaux, ISTM Gemena, Province du Sud-Ubangi, RD Congo
6 Assistant à l’ISTM Gemena, Sud-Ubangi, RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2025 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Early pregnancy in school settings remains a major public health and social concern in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in rural areas affected by socioeconomic challenges. Although pregnancy is not a disease, its occurrence among adolescents is often unintended and has serious consequences for health, education, and social integration. This study aimed to identify factors associated with early pregnancy among adolescents in the Léproserie neighborhood, located in the Mopela health area within the rural health zone of Bwamanda (South Ubangi). A cross-sectional study was conducted between July and September 2023 using field surveys and interpersonal interviews. A non-probability sampling method included 59 participants (43 girls and 16 boys) who had experienced pregnancy or fatherhood before the age of 18. The results indicate that most adolescents initiated sexual activity between the ages of 13 and 15, while regular condom use was low. The main reasons for non-use included perceived loss of sexual pleasure, partner refusal, and cultural or religious constraints. The findings highlight the combined influence of socio-cultural, economic, and educational factors, compounded by limited access to sexual and reproductive health information. The study underscores the need to strengthen comprehensive sexuality education, encourage parental involvement, and improve access to reproductive health services to reduce early pregnancies among school-aged adolescents.
Author Keywords: early pregnancy, adolescents, sexual behavior, condom use, reproductive health.
Abstract: (french)
La grossesse précoce en milieu scolaire constitue un problème majeur de santé publique et de société en République Démocratique du Congo, en particulier dans les zones rurales confrontées à de fortes difficultés socio-économiques. Bien que la grossesse ne soit pas une maladie, sa survenue chez les adolescentes est généralement non désirée et entraîne des conséquences négatives sur la santé, la scolarité et l’intégration sociale des jeunes filles, ainsi que sur leurs familles et la communauté. Cette étude vise à identifier les facteurs favorisant les grossesses précoces chez les adolescentes du quartier Léproserie, situé dans l’aire de santé Mopela, zone de santé rurale de Bwamanda (Sud-Ubangi). Il s’agit d’une étude transversale réalisée de juillet à septembre 2023, reposant sur une enquête de terrain et des entretiens interpersonnels. Un échantillonnage non probabiliste a permis d’inclure 59 participants, dont 43 filles et 16 garçons ayant connu une grossesse ou une paternité avant l’âge de 18 ans. Les résultats montrent que la majorité des enquêtés ont eu leur premier rapport sexuel entre 13 et 15 ans et que l’utilisation régulière du préservatif reste faible. Les principales raisons de non-utilisation sont la perte de plaisir sexuel, le refus du partenaire et les interdits socio-culturels. L’étude met en évidence l’influence combinée de facteurs socio-culturels, économiques et éducatifs, soulignant la nécessité de renforcer l’éducation sexuelle, l’implication familiale et l’accès aux services de santé reproductive.
Author Keywords: grossesse précoce, adolescents, sexualité, préservatif, santé reproductive.
How to Cite this Article
Makongo Malaka Frederick, MAMBESA BAINAMBOKA Martin, MANGI BENDE Maurice, MOMBELA IBELE Désiré, WEBINA SANA Clarice, and Bokango Bapoti Thomas, “Factors favoring early pregnancies among adolescents in the Leproserie neighborhood, Mopela Health Area, Bwamanda Rural Health Zone, South Ubangi Province, DRC,” International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, vol. 47, no. 2, pp. 147–155, December 2025.
