Determinants of high teenage pregnancy in Uganda
Abstract
The majority of child marriages stem from teenage pregnancies. Many children are becoming pregnant before reaching the legal age of majority, which is 18 years in Uganda. It‘s on that basis that this study based on to assess the factors associated with teenage pregnancies in Uganda. A total of 13,521 respondents were included in this study. Data was analyzed at univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis.
The findings of the study indicated that there is a statistically significant relationship between age at first sexual intercourse and teenage pregnancy in Uganda. Specifically, the study reveals that respondents who had their first sexual intercourse between the ages of 13-17 years were less likely to experience teenage pregnancy compared to those who had their first sexual experience between the ages of 8-12 years. The study also revealed that there was a statistically significant association between contraceptive use and teenage pregnancy in Uganda. Specifically, the study reveals that respondents who reported using any form of contraception were more likely to avoid teenage pregnancy compared to those who did not use any method of contraception.
Therefore, basing on these findings, the study recommended as follows, implement comprehensive sex education programs, improve access to contraceptives, conduct awareness campaigns, strengthen supportive healthcare services, involve parents and communities, prioritize research and monitoring, and foster multi-sectoral collaboration to reduce teenage pregnancy rates and enhance the well-being and prospects of young people in Uganda.