LET US END TEENAGE PREGNANCIES IN UGANDA: A Youth Baraza publication by Musiimenta Sanctas.

Teenage pregnancy is pregnancy which occurs to a woman or rather girl who is under the age of 20. According to the Ministry of Health, 25% of Ugandan teenagers become pregnant by the age of 19.

In Uganda, the factors leading to teenage pregnancy are multi faceted and these include social, individual and economic determinants.

Girls who become pregnant often drop out of school and many of them struggle to go back to school due to associated barriers like lack of financial support and social stigma.

Teenage pregnancy also endangers the lives of these young mothers as studies show that over 3.9 million unsafe abortions occur each year among girls aged 15-19 years contributing to maternal mortality and lasting health problems.

Unfortunately, some of the teenagers get pregnant as a result of sexual violence in form of rape or defilement. A report made by save the children (Assessment on the Impact of Covid-19 in Uganda) revealed that sexual abuse was contributing 20.1% of all the cases, 98% of the victims being girls and 17% of the perpetrators being family members. The report further reveals that In June 2020, a few months after lockdown, 59 and 58 cases of defilement were reported in Mayuge and Jinja districts respectively, located in Eastern Uganda.

To prevent teenage pregnancy, young people should be empowered to make informed decisions in line with their sexuality. I believe age appropriate sex education would expose young people to information that they may need in order for them to protect themselves from would be abusers. And empower them to say “No” to inappropriate conduct from members of the opposite sex. By acquiring age appropriate sex education, teenagers would protect themselves from early pregnancy.

Parents and Guardians also have a duty to protect their children from situations which may lead to early pregnancy. This may include creating a good environment in their homes and protecting them from being exposed to sexual related activities.

Ugandan Education Minister Janet Museveni recently said, “I will not get tired of reminding you (parents) to always keep an eye on your children so that they do not get pregnant during this lockdown.” Parents and guardians may also keep their children safe by protecting them from child labour since this exposes them to strangers who may influence them to engage in sexual immorality leading to early pregnancy.

Financial support from government would also go far in preventing teenage pregnancy since many girls engage in sexual activity to contribute financially towards their struggling families leading to early pregnancy.

In conclusion, it is the duty of all stake holders to contribute towards ending teenage pregnancy in Uganda.

At Mazungmuzo, through our, Saying no to child motherhood campaign, we are conducting a campaign against teenage pregnancy in the hope that we will have a positive impact in the fight against this vice that is increasing in not just Uganda which is the case study here but in most parts of Africa.

Imagine if we all added our voices towards this campaign, we would have a big loud voice that would definitely create awareness on this issue and perhaps one day, you and I can have girls who are girls and mothers who are physicaly and emotionally ready for motherhood.

BY: Musiimenta Sanctas