Teenage Pregnancy in Uganda: A Report on Current Interventions
New Vision is highlighting the challenge of teenage pregnancy in Uganda, to find a solution to the problem that costs Ugandan taxpayers up to sh250b a year in healthcare.
Introduction
Teenage pregnancy has over the years remained one of Uganda’s biggest challenges, with data revealing that the national teenage pregnancy rate has stagnated at 25%, according to the Uganda Health Demographic Survey 2016 report, despite commitments to reduce the figure to 15% by 2020.
However, all is not doom for the teenage girls and young women, as communities, development partners, and various government sectors have put in place interventions to curb it.
Community Engagement in Kamuli District
In Kamuli district, officials are engaging the community and key stakeholders to discuss the causes of teenage pregnancy and its associated complications. Discussions are centered around keeping girls in school, given that it is the safest place to guard them from the reach of preying men.
Kamuli district in Busoga sub-region is notorious for registering high numbers of teenage pregnancy. In 2021, the district registered a total of 6,511 teenage pregnancies, and in 2022, the number dropped to 6,314, according to data from the division of health information system.
The district has also taken a multi-sectoral approach by encouraging the education department, religious and cultural leaders, as well as the security department to always talk about the issue of teenage pregnancy on their platforms whenever they get an opportunity.
Civil Societies’ Role
A number of agencies have embraced the fight to ensure that teenage mothers are given a second chance. Plan International Uganda focuses on preventing teenage pregnancy and child marriages by providing information to make girls knowledgeable and encouraging change in practice and attitude towards different sexual reproductive issues, including teenage pregnancy.
Another organization, African Youth Development Link (AYDL), works to promote the good health and well-being of adolescent mothers living with HIV and their children in Bugiri and Busia districts. They provide support, training, and access to quality Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services.
Menstrual Hygiene and Management
The consequences of failure to access menstruation commodities and services cannot be underestimated. Lack of pads and menstrual facilities is linked to absenteeism and dropping out of school, consequently leading to early marriage or teenage pregnancy.
To address this issue, Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) distributed sanitary pads to girls in selected secondary schools. Other organizations, such as Build Africa, focus on raising awareness about menstrual hygiene and providing girls with the necessary resources.
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)
The Ministry of Gender has enhanced dialogue with key actors, including religious and cultural leaders, to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence. Shelters have been set up to rehabilitate young girls and women who are victims of SGBV.
Transactional Sex
Engaging in risky sexual behavior, such as transactional sex, has negative social impacts on young girls. Efforts are being made to provide vocational training opportunities for vulnerable girls, such as hairdressing and tailoring.
Sexuality Education Framework
The education ministry has integrated sexuality education into the curriculum to raise awareness among students about the factors that contribute to teenage pregnancy. The framework equips students with life skills to navigate these challenges.
Government Sectors’ Involvement
The government has developed a national strategic plan involving multiple sectors, such as gender, health, water, and environment, to support women and adolescent girls. Efforts are being made to strengthen parenting practices, provide economic opportunities, and improve access to healthcare services.
The Ministry of Gender is spearheading community mobilization and mindset change, while the Ministry of Health focuses on family care practices and referral systems for children undergoing abuse.
The government is also drafting a family policy and engaging cultural institutions and religious leaders to address negative cultural practices that promote teenage pregnancy and early marriage.
Conclusion
Efforts to tackle teenage pregnancy in Uganda are multi-faceted and involve various stakeholders. However, there is still much work to be done to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing the teenage pregnancy rate to 15% by 2020.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
- Indicator: Teenage pregnancy rate
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
- Indicator: Number of teenage pregnancies among school-age girls
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early, and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
- Indicator: Number of teenage pregnancies resulting from child, early, and forced marriages
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
- Indicator: Number of teenage pregnancies among marginalized and vulnerable groups
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
- Indicator: Number of cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against teenage girls
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs. | Teenage pregnancy rate |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes. | Number of teenage pregnancies among school-age girls |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early, and forced marriage and female genital mutilation. | Number of teenage pregnancies resulting from child, early, and forced marriages |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status. | Number of teenage pregnancies among marginalized and vulnerable groups |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | Number of cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against teenage girls |
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Source: newvision.co.ug
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