Multilevel determinants of teenage childbearing in sub-Saharan Africa in the context of HIV/AIDS

•Higher community wealth and female education are associated with lower teenage childbearing.•Evidence of higher teenage childbearing in communities of higher HIV prevalence, testing coverage or HIV/AIDS stigma.•Relationship between national GDP per-capita and teenage childbearing moderated by HIV prevalence.•Positive association between national GDP per-capita and teenage childbearing stronger in lower HIV prevalence countries.

This paper examined national variations and multilevel determinants of teenage childbearing in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in the context of HIV/AIDS using data from recent Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 29 countries of SSA. Results showed significant community and national variations in teenage childbearing, partly explained by socio-economic and HIV/AIDS context. At community level, lower HIV/AIDS stigma, higher wealth and female education were associated with lower teenage childbearing. However, national socio-economic status had an intricate relationship with teenage childbearing. Higher national GDP per-capita was generally associated with higher teenage childbearing, and this relationship was stronger in lower HIV prevalence countries.