Time to First Birth and Its Determinants among Married Female Youths in Ethiopia, 2020.

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.