INTERVENTIONS TO PREVENT TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND ITS APPLICABILITY FOR LOW-MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIES: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Background: Teenage pregnancies in developing countries are a significant health risk for mothers and babies. In the last ten years, individual studies have provided evidence of effective teenage pregnancy prevention interventions, however, it has not been summarised.Aims: This literature review aims to synthetize and identify potential interventions to reduce teenage pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries.Methods: The Search was conducted in three databases (Google Scholar, ProQuest and PubMed), Quality assessment of each study included was conducted using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) assessment tool. Findings were summarized using tables and narrative approached. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was also used as a guideline of reporting.Results: Initial search yielded 2395 articles, after screening the articles against research aims and objectives as well as inclusion and exclusion criteria nine studies were finally included in the review. Single interventions (sex education, providing access to contraception and health services, giving scholarships or cash transfers for schooling), and multi-pronged intervention (reproductive health education combined with life skill training and access to health services) were found in the literature. Both interventions can be implemented in community or at school to reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy in LMCI countries.Conclusion: School or community based using single or multi-pronged interventions are considered as an effective approach to reduce teenage pregnancy in LMCI countries. Further research is needed to understand the barriers and enablers of successful implementations in LMCI countries.