Abstract:
Introduction: The first birth is the most significant events in a woman's life that
indicates the beginning of undertaking the intensive responsibilities of motherhood
and childcare. Age at first birth has health, economic and social consequences
and implications. But little has been known on the time to first birth and its
determinants in Ethiopia. Therefore, this research is planned to fill this gap.
Objectives of the study: To assess the time to first birth and its determinants
among married female youths in Ethiopia, 2020.
Methods: Retrospective follow up study was conducted using the EDHS 2016
data among 2,721 married youths. The data was extracted using STATA version
14.0. Kaplan Meier抯 survival and Log rank test were used to compare survival
experiences of respondents using categorical variables. Cox regression was
applied, hazard ratio with 95% CI was computed and variables with P-value < 0.05
in the multivariable analysis were taken as significant determinants.
Result: Overall median survival time was 18 years (IQR =17-20). The significant
determinants of time to first birth are place of residence (being rural (AHR=1.34,
95%CI:1.15,1.60),Religion (being Muslim (AHR =1.75, 95%CI:1.46,2.09) ,being
protestant (AHR=2.04, 95%CI:1.68,2.47)), age at first sex ( first sex <15 years
(AHR =2.03, 95%CI:1.64, 2.50) and first sex between 15 &17years (AHR=1.66,
95%CI:1.41,1.94), age at marriage (marriage <15 years (AHR=5.10,95%CI:
4.15,6.27), marriage between 15 & 17 (AHR=2.44, 95%CI: 2.06,2.87), unmet need
for family planning (AHR=1.26,CI: 95%1.10,1.44) and hearing family planning
messages on mass media (AHR =1.22, 95%CI: 1.06, 1.41).
Conclusion: The median age at first birth is in line with the legal age of marriage.
It is comparable with developing countries and lower than the developed and the
global average. The time to first birth in Ethiopia is mainly influenced by
sociodemographic and reproductive related factors. Therefore, the government of
Ethiopia in collaboration with ministry of health and ministry of education, should
work on these determinants.
Keywords: Time to first birth, Determinants, married female youths, Ethiopia.