Factors Associated with Contraceptive Use among Teenage Girls Aged 15-19 in Uganda

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of education attainment, religion, type of place of residence, region and marital status on contraceptive use among teenage girls in Uganda. The main objective was to find out whether the social-economic and demographic associated factors with contraceptive use among teenage girls aged 15-19 in Uganda. The dependent variable was contraceptive use, the independent variables were, education attainment, religion, type of place of residence, region and marital status. The data was obtained from the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey 2011. A representative sample of 2026 teenage girls aged 15 – 19 years was obtained from the sample of 919 women aged 15 – 49 years in western Uganda. The study used descriptive statistics, and cross tabulations. The results showed 6.6 percent of the respondents were using method of contraception whereas only 93.4 percent were not using a method of contraception at the time of the survey. Bivariate analysis using Pearson’s Chi-Square showed that only education attainment, region and marital status are significantly associated with contraceptive use. Based on the study findings, it is evident that higher levels of education are associated with delay in sexual intercourse and also much knowledge about contraceptives and freedom for which method to use therefore policy makers and implementers should ensure full implementation of the Universal Primary and Secondary Education programs plus government sponsorship and loan schemes at higher education levels like universities in Uganda. Findings have revealed that type of place of residence is not associated with contraceptive use.