Knowledge of Teenage Mothers on Maternal Health: A Case Study of Eastern Uganda

Abstract

The UDHS 2016 reports maternal mortality rate of 336 deaths per 100,000 live births. Teenage girls are physically and psychologically immature for reproduction. Therefore, several medical complications such as preterm birth, low birth weight and anemia are found in teenage pregnancies. Therefore, this study aimed at examining adolescents’ knowledge and attitude towards maternal health. To achieve the above objective, a study was conducted and a sample of 1309 adolescent girls living in Eastern Uganda was used. Secondary data was got from UDHS, 2016 and analysis of data was done at univariate and bivariate levels using STATA .chi square test of significance was used to establish the association between knowledge of maternal health and socio-demographic and economic factors. The variables which were significantly associated with knowledge of adolescent girls on maternal health included place of delivery, total number of living children, education, knowledge of any method, place of residence and respondent currently working. However place of residence; wealth index and religion were not statistically significant. Therefore, there is a need for investment in girl child education, sensitization of adolescents about contraceptives and woman empowerment programmes by the government and non-government institutions.