Magnitude of Prior Teenage Pregnancy among Women Aged 18–67 Years in Rural Southwestern Uganda
Edgar Mugema Mulogo *
Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
Moses Ntaro
Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
Jessica Kenney
Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, 125 Nashua Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Palka Patel
Indiana University School of Medicine, 340 West 10th Street Fairbanks Hall, Suite 6200 Indianapolis, IN 46202-3082, USA.
Andrew Wesuta
Bugoye Community Health Collaboration, Bugoye Health Centre III, P.O. Box 149, Kasese, Uganda.
Peter Chris Kawungezi
Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
Shem Bwambale
Bugoye Community Health Collaboration, Bugoye Health Centre III, P.O. Box 149, Kasese, Uganda.
Michael Matte
Bugoye Community Health Collaboration, Bugoye Health Centre III, P.O. Box 149, Kasese, Uganda.
Fred Bagenda
Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
Geren Stone
Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, 125 Nashua Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objective: Teenage pregnancy is a growing health challenge among adolescents in Uganda with its magnitude varying across the different regions of Uganda. This study evaluated the magnitude and factors associated with prior teenage pregnancy among women aged 18-67 years in a rural community of Kasese district, Uganda.
Results: Fifty-two percent (52%) of the 138 women interviewed, had a prior teenage pregnancy. Having experienced a teenage pregnancy was independently associated with; occupation of current household heads (adjusted odds ratio, aOR= 0.2, 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.1 – 0.9), whether or not the current household could adequately meet their food needs (aOR= 0.1, 95% CI: 0.01 – 0.8), and whether the current household shared toilet facilities (aOR= 4.7, 95% CI: 1.0 – 21.8).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that magnitude of prior teenage pregnancy among women in this rural community is much higher than the national average. Socio economic factors at household level are contributory to prior teenage pregnancy. A multi sectoral approach integrating household livelihood improvement with health interventions targeting the girl child is proposed to curb teenage pregnancy in this context.
Keywords: Prior teenage pregnancy, women, rural Uganda