THE COST OF TEENAGE PREGNANCIES IN THE FACE OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC: A Ugandan Story.

As Uganda and the world at large struggles with the fallout of the COVID-19 global pandemic, more serious consequences have emerged on some of the most vulnerable populations. 

Unfortunately, adolescent girls have been among the most adversely affected and for some, life has become downright dangerous. In Uganda, over 15 million learners were sent home in March 2020 and majority of these were teenagers.

However, behind the missed school days lay a bigger challenge for the country’s children. Between March 2020 and June 2021, there was a 22.5% increase in pregnancy among girls aged between 13 – 20. Over 90,000 girls under 20 got pregnant during this lockdown and in some communities, girls have tried to terminate their pregnancies. In a country where abortion is done largely in rudimentary ways,one can only imagine the fate of those that attempted abortion as this endangers the lives of these teenage girls who sometimes die in the process. The numbers are heartbreaking.

The vast numbers of young mothers that have risen in the last two years of the pandemic point to increased sexual activity among these young people and unchecked unprotected sex obviously undermines the country’s struggles against the HIV/AIDs pandemic by raising the risk of new infections.

As Mazungmuzo and the Youth Baraza, we are calling upon youths and teenagers to SAY NO TO TEENAGE PREGNANCIES by either staying away from Sexual interactions or protecting themselves against pregnancy as we recognize that a one fix it all approach may not work.
Stakeholders and all and sundry have a duty to intervene in this growing problem. As we battle Covid 19, we need to prepare for it’s aftermath and the rising teenage pregnancies pause a challenge to Uganda’s very existence in regard to the country’s economy, family system and literacy levels.

At mazungumzo, which is the home of the Youth baraza, a platform of dialogue amongst young adults, we recognise that this is a problem we need to quickly deploy against.

We have begun a campaign to talk and act against teenage pregnancies and it’s associated problems.
Join our campaign and be part of a voice that calls upon stakeholders to systematically address this challenge.

Join the #Young adults’ ABC campaign.
ABC: Abstain, Be faithful & Condom use.

BULUKUKU DANIEL EPHRAIM
Concerned citizen, Youth baraza member and Mazungumzo Communications Manager.