Demographic

Table 4.8 Median age at first birthMedian age at first birth among women age 25-49 years, according to backgroundcharacteristics, Swaziland 2006-07BackgroundCurrent agecharacteristic 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49Womenage 25-49ResidenceUrban 20.4 20.3 20.2 20.0 19.3 20.1Rural 19.1 19.2 19.1 18.3 18.8 18.9RegionHhohho 19.8 19.6 19.9 18.8 18.6 19.5Manzini 19.7 19.8 19.8 18.8 18.7 19.4Shiselweni 19.4 19.3 19.4 18.9 19.9 19.3Lubombo 18.8 18.8 18.5 18.0 18.7 18.6EducationNo education 18.0 17.7 18.2 16.8 18.7 17.8Lower primary 17.2 18.6 18.8 17.7 17.2 18.0Higher primary 18.4 18.3 18.2 18.5 18.0 18.3Secondary 18.7 19.3 19.3 19.0 19.4 19.1High school 21.1 20.4 21.3 20.0 21.6 20.8Tertiary 24.3 24.0 22.9 23.0 21.6 23.1Wealth quintileLowest 18.5 18.6 18.8 17.5 18.8 18.5Second 18.7 18.7 18.7 18.3 18.7 18.6Middle 18.9 19.3 18.8 18.2 18.6 18.8Fourth 20.2 19.2 19.9 19.2 18.1 19.5Highest 21.2 21.2 20.4 20.1 19.9 20.7Total 19.5 19.4 19.4 18.7 18.9 19.24.8 TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND MOTHERHOODTeenage pregnancy is a major health concern because of its association with higher morbidity andmortality for both the mother and child. Childbearing during the teenage years also frequently has adversesocial consequences, particularly on female educational attainment since women who become mothers intheir teens are more likely to curtail education.Table 4.9 shows the percentage of women age 15-19 who have given birth or who are pregnantwith their first child. A total of 23 percent of teenagers have started childbearing; 19 percent have had alive birth and 4 percent are pregnant with their first child. While only 4 percent of women age 15 havestarted childbearing, 45 percent of women are either mothers or are pregnant with their first child by age19. Rural women are more likely than urban teenagers to have started childbearing. However, theproportion of teenagers who are pregnant with their first child is slightly higher in urban areas than inrural areas (6 percent compared with 4 percent).Fertility Levels, Trends, and Differentials | 57