Teenage Pregnancy in Uganda: What's Your take?

Poverty is cited as one of the main causes of Teenage Pregnancies in Uganda.

Many adolescent girls between 15 and 19 get pregnant. About 16 million women 15–19 years old give birth each year, about 11% of all births worldwide. Adolescent pregnancies are most common among poor and less educated girls and those living in rural areas.

The reasons for increase may be more complex, including shifts in racial and ethnic composition of the population, increased in poverty, the growth of abstinence-only sex education programs at the expense of comprehensive programs, and changes in public perception and attitudes toward both teenage and unintended pregnancy. One of the main causes for unwanted pregnan­cies is poverty among little girls who become an easy prey for sugar daddies who entice them with gifts in order to sexually abuse them.

Why?  Lack of basic needs lead girls to accept gifts from anyone who may involve them into sexual abuse. The most exposed ones are those studying in 9-year and 12-year basic education who are often approached when coming back home. These students do not get money to satisfy school­ing needs so they received money from motorcyclists, Teachers and Shopkeepers who are among the common culprits of teenage pregnancy. Some par­ents or guardians abandon their parenting responsibilities to teachers. “We wouldn’t say that things have fallen apart, but it’s sad and very worrying to hear that even a single girl is facing sexual violence.

Remember seven out of 10 teen mothers are unlikely to receive prenatal care, which of course has great negative health impacts for their children. Aside from the health risks, kids born to teen mothers are at greater risk for emotional and physical abuse, especially if there is no family support.

Teenage mothers are also at higher risk of having emotional and academic problems later in life. Another startling statistic: baby boys of teen mothers are at an increased risk for incarceration later in their lives, while girls born to teens are more likely to become teen moms themselves.

We need to do more to reach young people with information and education on reproductive health. Parents and the community should do more to help young people to understand these issues so they can make good choices. Therefore, it is mainly the parent’s responsibility to deliver an adequate sex education to their adolescent sons and daughters. The Reproduction system, how it works, and all about reproduction health also important to be imparted to young children so that they become aware of the various aspects related to sex and pregnancy. Schools and society are also responsible to emphasize the risk factors associated with unsafe sex as well as the results of unplanned pregnancy to teenagers, not to mention the ethical and moral values.