Prevalence and factors associated with teenage pregnancy in Mbale regional referral hospital :

Abstract

Background: Teenage pregnancy and teen-motherhood has become a major health and social concern globally and Uganda in particular because of its association with high morbidity and mortality for both the mother and the child. Teenage pregnancy is a great source of concern for policy makers, social workers and other service providers due its negative impacts on the girl- child. Objective. The overall objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with teenage pregnancy in Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. Method. The study was a cross sectional quantitative design that used a consecutive sampling technique and a total of 427 respondents were recruited for the study. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire that was administered by the trained research assistants. Results. The prevalence of teenage pregnancy was found to be at 20.6% in this study The median age of first sexual intercourse was 17 years. The factors found statistically significantly associated with teenage pregnancy include; single mothers with (AOR=13.88, 95%CI=5.61, 34.33), rural residence (AOR=2.12, 95%CI=1.03, 4.35), students (AOR=5.19, 95%CI=1.33, 20.2) Noncontraceptive use (AOR=6,02,95%CI=3.33, 10.9), farming (AOR=3 .42,95%CI= 1.64,7.13), those with already married teen sibling (AOR=0.38,95% CI=0.22,0.67), and parental influence (AOR=1.57, 95% CI=0.47,2.99). Those whose parents were not able to talk to them about sex (AOR=0.58, 95%CI=0.33, 1.01) and those who didn't inform their whereabouts (AOR=1.67, 95%CI= 1.02, 2.75) had increased risk of teenage pregnancy. Conclusion and Recommendations: The factors such as single mothers, rural place of residence, students, non-contraceptive use, and farming for income, parental influence, marital status pregnancy of teen siblings, parent's ability to pay tuition / scholastic materials and parental education on sex contributed to teenage pregnancy. The MOH and Education need to work together to fight against teenage pregnancy right from the rural settings, intensify awareness contraceptive use and sex education in the community. The parents and guardians should be encouraged to educate their children about reproductive health and sex education as its gap shown by this study and the government needs to strengthen policy to empower teenage girls on contraceptive usage.