By George Tinka
Bunyoro and Tooro region have been identified as the leading regions with high teenage pregnancies in Uganda.
In a survey conducted between September to October 2022 by Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) Uganda in partnership with Makerere University, it was discovered that 28% of children under the age of 18 years in Bunyoro and Tooro region get pregnant while 25% of children in Uganda are also facing a challenge of early marriage.
Speaking during a regional leadership and facility health providers engagement for Bunyoro region at HB Hotel in Hoima City, Dr Richard Mugahi, Assistant Commissioner in charge of Reproductive and Infant Health in the Ministry of health says young boys and girls are getting involved in sex at an early age.
Mugahi adds that the community has a role to play in order to fight the teenage pregnancies in the region.
According to the survey findings, Bunyoro region has recorded an increase in family planning uptake to 45.5 percent. There is also a slight improvement in uptake of traditional, short acting and long-acting family planning methods with 7.5%, 21.5% and 16.5% respectively.
Dr. Mugahi has also noted that abortion related complications are the leading cause of deaths among females aged 16-24 years in Uganda.
Dr Fredrick Makumbi, the study team leader and a professor at Makerere University says the community must play a big role in combating teenage pregnancies.
Betty Kyadondo, the Director Family Health at National Planning Council Uganda says there is a need to support girls who get pregnant. “When girls are supported and grow into adulthood, we build a nation and nurture a crop of responsible mothers, who will bring up another generation,” she added.
Peter Banura, the Chairperson LCV Kikuube District says education plays a critical role in the fight against teenage pregnancies.
