Premarital conception in married couples: the Nigerian Igbo experience

Analysis of data from 142 married Nigerian Igbo primigravidae seen at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, from May 3, 1990 to August 31, 1990 revealed an incidence of premarital conception of 65.5%. This group of women were younger and had more representation in the lower social classes when compared to those who only became pregnant after marriage. Both groups were similar in their mean heights, incidence of anaemia, maternal health during pregnancy and tended to book for antenatal care late in pregnancy. The reasons for this state of affairs were examined.