J Infect Dis Epidemiol The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers and to assess risk factors associated with HIV infection.
We used a multistage sampling design to select 6 health areas. In each of these 6 health areas selected, proportionate sampling method was employed to get participants from the health areas. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and analysed using SPSS version We used adolescents 68 pregnant and mothers , with mean age The overall prevalence of HIV infection was 4.
There is a need to address adolescent pregnancy not only as a health outcome but as a risk factor for HIV infection. Preventing adolescent pregnancies is important in a comprehensive HIV prevention in Cameroon.
Adolescents are growing up in a context marked by pervasive poverty, limited educational opportunities, high Human Immunodeficiency Virus HIV prevalence, widespread conflicts, and weak social controls [ 1 ]; all pre-disposing factors to poor sexo-reproductive health outcomes.
This is not different in Cameroon as it has been shown that unprotected sex presents the dual risk of unwanted pregnancy and HIV infection especially among adolescents [ 3 ]. These risks are disproportionately borne by young women and the period of adolescence is a period of emerging sexual desires, behaviors and relationships.
