Paper short abstract:

This study aims to verify the mental health (anxiety and depression) of pregnant adolescents in Angola who sought prenatal services at the Maternity. The results show that 92% of pregnant adolescents have one single partner and 32% have reported having had other sexual partners.

Paper long abstract:

Pregnancy in adolescence is considered to be a public health problem in Angola. This is evidenced by the high number of girls seeking prenatal consultation services at the Maternity, in Lubango, Angola. In 2016 alone, 1975 births by adolescents under the age of 18 years were recorded in this hospital.

This study aims to verify the mental health (anxiety and depression) of pregnant adolescents who sought prenatal services at the Maternity.

The sample is composed of 50 Angolan pregnant teenagers, residents of Lubango, aged 13 to 17. Most of them live with their parents (82%) in the outskirts of Lubango or in the townships (67.4%). The majority has highschool education (60%).

Three instruments were used to carry out this study: a sociodemographic questionnaire, the CDI (Children's Depression Inventory) and the CMAS (Manifestational Anxiety Scale for Children).

The results show that 92% of pregnant adolescents have one single partner and 32% have reported having had other sexual partners. In 88% of the cases the father assumed paternity. The vast majority of these adolescents (94%) had not been pregnant before. Asked about their feelings and emotions about their pregnancy, 46% feel happy, 16% feel sad, 30% scared and 8% say they are desperate.

It has been found that only 20% have depression. The totality of pregnant adolescents are anxious, with 80% having moderate anxiety and 20% severe anxiety.

As for the beginning of sexual intercourse, the minimum age found was 12 years, with a mean age of 14.7 years.