The development of adolescent agency and implications for reproductive choice among girls in Zambia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A substantial proportion of adolescent girls in Zambia lack the ability to decide their reproductive future. We examined the role of agency in early and unwanted adolescent childbearing.

Methods

Using latent transition analysis, we characterized a multi-dimensional profile of adolescent agency annually over a four-year period. We investigated the influence of early life access to resources and time-varying predictors (school retention, violence, early marriage and unwanted/mistimed pregnancy and childbearing) on agency profile membership as well as transitions in agency status over time.

Results

Four agency profiles were identified, with differences by age cohort (10-14 years vs. 15-19 years). Three profiles identified in both age cohorts were: Low-moder

SUBMITTER: McCarthy KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8733315 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature