Background: Tribal adolescent mothers in India are locked in an intergenerational cycle of severe deprivation. The data demonstrate that teenage pregnancy is not a single issue, but a set of discrete challenges influenced by disparate factors. Underlying socioeconomic and demographic disadvantages compound these disparities.

Objectives: To study the effect of socio-demographic factors and high-risk pregnancy associated with tribal and non-tribal adolescent mothers in selected districts of MP

Methods: Community-based cross-sectional retrospective study involving tribal & non-tribal adolescent mothers. A pre-tested, structured questionnaire was used to collect data on household factors, reproductive health behaviours, and foetal outcomes. Quantitative data were collected from adolescent mothers (both tribal and non‑tribal) on place of residence, religion, family size, education, fathers’ education, pregnancy registration, and associated high risk during pregnancy.

Results: The study involved a total of 332 respondents from non-tribal (177) and Tribal groups (155) in selected districts of Madhya Pradesh. Approximately equal proportions of respondents were from rural and urban areas. Most respondents are Hindu (85.8 percent), followed by Muslims (14.1 percent). 65.2 percent of tribal respondents had 'No Education'; in contrast, respondents in the non-tribal group demonstrated relatively higher educational attainment, with Primary (31.6 percent), followed by middle education (22.6 percent). This lack of education is intergenerational and even more pronounced in their parents, with 81.3% of fathers having no education. Three-fourths of the total respondents were at high risk during their pregnancy period, with severe anaemia being most common in the tribal group, and young primi being common in the non-tribal group.

Conclusion: Teenage pregnancy is a significant public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as India, where it significantly increases the burden of maternal and newborn illness. It is a complex process resulting from a combination of biological immaturity and socioeconomic influences. In Madhya Pradesh, where there are many tribal people, cultural traditions, geographical isolation, and disparities in access to healthcare exacerbate the condition of adolescent pregnancy.