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Vulnerability Level of Spatial Units and Adolescent Fertility in Colombia

Juliana Guerrero, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Carlos Ramirez Hernandez, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
José L Wilches-Gutierrez, UNFPA
Lelio A Arias-Vizcaino, DANE

In Colombia, adolescents from the most vulnerable contexts are the most likely to become mothers. Despite the efforts to reduce adolescent fertility, accurate targeting is required for public policy and preventive interventions planning and implementation. This study aims to identify spatial units with the highest levels of vulnerability to child and adolescent pregnancies, to facilitate prevention decision-making. We conducted an ecological study using housing census and CRVS data. We build a classification of vulnerability to adolescent fertility (aged 10-19) using a k-means algorithm that clusters residential blocks according to vulnerability indicators. We fit three analysis scenarios to assign the vulnerability level: univariate, including adolescent births; multivariate, including vulnerability indicators; multivariate, including both births and vulnerability indicators. The study showed a significant association between vulnerability indicators and births. Previous births in a residential block were associated with a higher vulnerability level to adolescent fertility. The study provides a tool for decision-makers to reduce the vulnerability level and adolescent fertility, as it allows for identifying hotspots of vulnerability where attention should be focused. This mapping will be available on the NSO website for stakeholders to consult as a friendly way to improve self-care and interventions regarding this public health and rights matter.

Keywords: Children and youth, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

See extended abstract.

  Presented in Session P3.