Abstract:
Introduction
Adolescent childbearing is associated with Poor health, economic and social outcomes
Uganda has a high proportion of adolescents who have begun childbearing and Eastern
Uganda has the highest proportion at 30%. Prevention of subsequent pregnancies is a key
intervention but information 011 resumption of sexual intercourse among adolescent mothers
postpartum is limited, further, information on factors associated with early resumption of
sexual intercourse among postpartum adolescents is scarce
Methods:
This cross-sectional study was conducted in Soroti district among adolescent girls 10 to 19
years of ages who had given birth and had come to a health facility for postnatal care or child
health services but were ~ 6weeks postpartum
Results:
There "Were 622 respondents in this study, the mean and median ages were 18 I a-id 18 years
respecllvely,23.15% were 16 to 17 years,74 6% were 18 to 19 years and the youngest was 13
years and 63 5% of the adolescents were married/cohabiung. Over all 153(25%) of the
respondents had early resumption of sexual intercourse postpartum at bivariate analysis,
settmg of respondent'S residence (p=O.OOO), marital status (p=O 024), staying with
partne husband (p=O.OOO), Income of respondent (p=0.055), pregnancy outcome (p=0.025),
rrode of delivery (p=O 000) were the factors associated with early resumption of sexual
Intercourse postpartum.
At multivariate analysis, staying in urban (aORI 82, CI 1.066 - 3.107, P 0028), delivery by
caesarean section (aOR 0.10, CI 0030- 0.334, p=O 000), staying with partner/husband smce
giving b rth to current baby (aOR 392, CI 1.766 - 8.766. p=O 001) were the predictors of
early resumption of sexual intercourse.
Adolescents aged 18 - J 9 years were 0.17 times more likely to resume coitus early compared
to their counterparts (10 - 17 years) though this was not statistically significant,
Conclusion:
This study showed that 25% of the adolescent girls resumed Coitus early (before 6 weeks)
after childbirth among the adolescents who were married those who were staying with their partner/husband after delivery those staying in the urban setting are more likely to resume Coitus before 6 weeks postpartum Programs need to be Intensified to provide contraceptive before 6 weeks postpartum as a high number resume sexual intercourse before then.
