Results from a maternal, newborn and child health program targeting pregnant, married adolescent girls in northern Nigeria

Adolescent pregnancy is a significant public health concern in Nigeria where adolescent girls (15-19 years) face high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality compared to older women. Interventions that address the unique needs of pregnant adolescents in the Nigerian context are critical to improve pregnancy-related health outcomes. This paper presents results from a longitudinal quasi-experimental study evaluating the effectiveness of a maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) intervention on pregnancy and postpartum outcomes among married adolescent girls in northern Nigeria. The study included an intervention and comparison group and was conducted in Kaduna and Jigawa states. Data were collected at baseline, 3-months post intervention, and at 8-weeks postpartum. Results from the cross-sectional postpartum survey are presented in this paper. The postpartum survey sample included 846 married adolescent girls aged 15-19, 392 (46%) in the comparison group and 454 (54%) in the intervention group. Compared to adolescent girls in the comparison group, those exposed to the intervention were more likely to attend any antenatal care visit (IRR: 1.72; 95%CI: [1.56, 1.90]), attend antenatal care at an earlier gestational age (β: -0.54; 95%CI: [-0.89, -0.21]), attend more antenatal care visits (β: 1.39; 95%CI: [1.01, 1.77]), use nutritional supplements during pregnancy (IRR: 1.49; 95%CI: [1.35, 1.64]), give birth at a health facility (IRR: 2.44; 95%CI: [2.48, 4.05]), use postpartum family planning (IRR: 3.17; 95%CI: [2.48, 4.05]), and receive postnatal care (IRR: 1.48; 95%CI: [1.25, 1.76]). The adolescent-friendly MNCH intervention demonstrated positive and statistically significant effects on pregnancy and postpartum outcomes among married adolescent girls in northern Nigeria. Involving adolescents in program design played an important role in creating a program that addressed the specific needs of pregnant adolescent girls. Scaling up such interventions to improve health outcomes for pregnant adolescent girls can impact their immediate health but also their future health trajectories and that of their children.