1. GENERATION
HEALTH
INITIATIVE (GHI)
FACE
the
FACTS.
Reduce teenage pregnancy
FACE
the
FACTS.
Reduceteenagepregnancy
Why is it high in Uganda?
What is the problem?
Teenage pregnancy is pregnancy in girls below 20years. It affects the health,
well-being and life opportunities of young women, their children, families and
socio-economic development of our communities and the country as a whole.
Teenage Pregnancy robs girls of their potential and causes death or disabilities
of thousands of young girls and newborns every year.
1/4 girls aged 15 - 19 is already a mother or pregnant with her first child.
(UBOS and Macro International Inc 2012)
. No information and education for young people
. No services for young people
. No policies or laws enforced to support young people
. Young people do not receive accurate information and education
. Several myths and misconceptions exist among teenagers. 54% of young people think a girl
cannot get pregnant the first time she has sex. (Straight Talk Foundation 2013).
. Teenage pregnancy is higher among uneducated girls: 45% of girls without education have
already had a baby, compared to 16% of girls with secondary education. (UBOS and Macro
International Inc 2012).
. Young people do not receive effective sexual and reproductive health services
. Only 5% of public health facilities in Uganda provide Youth Friendly Sexual and Reproductive
Health Services. (Ministry of Health, 2012).
. 63% of young people were not happy with the services they received at a health centre.
(Straight Talk Foundation 2014)
. Teenage girls have limited access to contraception. Only 14% of girls aged 15-19 use a
contraceptive method. (UBOS and Macro International Inc 2012)
. Teenage girls do not receive support; laws and policies are not enforced
Traditionally, the blame for pregnancies is placed on
the girls; they are blamed for getting pregnant and yet
stakeholders do not play their roles in protecting girls
from teenage pregnancy.
49% of Ugandan girls are married before their 18th
birthday, despite the fact that the law does not allow
this. Married girls are often pressured to have a child
soon after getting married, despite being children
themselves.Teenage pregnancy is therefore highest
where child marriage is prevalent. (UNFPA 2014)
Making life positive and attractive to young people