Estimating teenagers currently pregnant using HMIS ANC 1st attendance data

Understanding the current number of pregnant teenagers is essential for assessing the prevalence of teenage pregnancy, which is crucial for effective implementation of Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (AYSRH) programs. While surveys are commonly used to report this indicator, they are often resource-intensive and infrequent. However, data on the initial attendance of pregnant women at health facilities can serve as an alternative method to estimate this indicator. Monitoring changes in this indicator over time is vital for identifying trends. The utilization of Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) allows for near real-time tracking of these changes, facilitating timely decision-making. Although the precision of facility-based data may vary compared to surveys, continuous tracking presents an opportunity to enhance HMIS systems, thereby improving the accuracy and quality of reported data. The study compared and validated modeled teenage pregnancy rate derived from HMIS ANC attendance and those collected and reported through the KDHS-2022 survey which is considered a Gold standard for health related indicators.