Adjumani, (UG):- The Adjumani district health report for the year 2023 indicated that the rate of teenage pregnancy has increased from 13% to now 14%, a trend that is worrying the local leaders and other stakeholders.
The report further revealed that among all the 11 sub-counties in the Adjumani district, Ofua sub-county is in the lead stands at 19.8% of the girls between the ages of 10 to 19 years who have visited Ofua Health III for their first ANC, which turn has raised the eyebrows of the opinion leaders, health workers and parents who have voiced their concerns over these surging issues which have led to several girls dropping out of school last year.
The in charge of the facility Tako Stephen castigated the parents of these children for not taking responsibility.
According to him, several factors have contributed to this increasing number of teenage pregnancies in this sub-county among them include, poor parenting, late movement at night by children, poor control by the parents, negative perceptions of the prevention of the pregnancy, parents finding it hard to meet all the basic needs of the girls, boda boda riders helping them in exchange of “something for something love”, lack of knowledge on sexuality, the most common factor is uncontrolled community discos in the villages which made them to move anyhow at night to these discos hence getting pregnant at the teenage age.
Substance abuse and late entry into school are yet other biting factors that have caused this high rate of teenage pregnancy in the sub-county.
He said that there is a very big problem of communication between these girls and their parents, some of the parents do not have time to talk about their parents’ visa versus the children hence leading to this pregnancy because they don’t have to share their problems with.
He said that some of these parents see their girls as a source of wealth so marrying them off at the teenage age is a pride to them because they will be paid herds of cattle most parents in rural areas do not understand the gist of dispensing of these contraceptive pills to their girls so any government programs related to that will be shun by them.
Mrs. Abio Sarah, a parent and at the same time Headteacher at Olal Memorial Nursery and Primary School echoed her concern over this issue on the problem of illiteracy of the parents, there are many children-headed families, weekly markets, very bad peer groups, and drug abuse.
“These children do not have moral value in them,” says Abio, “how can a girl of this age be hard to control if you are a real parent of integrity? So, all these factors according to her have contributed to the high rate of teenage pregnancy among school-age children in the sub-county.”
Rev Iranya Saviour, a priest with the Church of Uganda, in Pakele Town council also said that the issues of domestic violence amongst the parents, poverty, lack of security at home for the children, and negative mindset of the children and parents towards education are the major drivers.
“A parent will say to the children, My parents didn’t go to school and so I am, So with this mindset do you think a child will accept to stay in school, definitely a child whose parents are illiterate who do not know the importance of education will keep their children at home hence girls growing up with wrong mentality about the school,” the pastor said.
Biblically according to Rev Iranya, the Gospel of Christ needs to be preached to them at home, parents of these children and the children need to know about the word of God and its importance in their lives.
Children should be exposed to the church at an early age so that they will have fear of God in them. He went ahead and emphasized the issues of Parents respecting their families to reduce the issue of domestic violence and said education is very important in a home for a child’s growth so that they can interact freely and be on the known side in the community they live in.
“Proverb 9:10, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom for the fools despises it” So with all these it’s always important to teach our children a godly way so that the issues of teenage pregnancy can be reduced in Ofua sub-county.
Tako Stephen suggested that for the numbers to be reduced there is need to increase outreache programs to sensitize the communities.
“we have embarked on serious peer-to-peer education programs, talking to the peer mothers, training of the Village health Teams (VHT) to in turn train the young girls on family planning services” he said.
According to Tako, their data for this year, the months between January to March shows that there is a slight drop in the percentage at 16.5%, this drop came as a result of the community awareness which they have done.
He identified some areas Kureku that are blackspots where there is rampant disco dance and drinking of alcolha which results in to teenage pregnancy.
He also said that they have also engaged other stakeholders at their various levels to help in the awareness.
“Community must accept the sexual activities involving under age girls are rampant in their various locations” the in charge insisted.
He also said their scaling up family planning services to reduce the rising numbers of teenage pregnancies in the sub-county.
Recommendations
The report indicated that the major causes of this upsurge in teenage pregnancy can be mainly due to Poor parenting roles & responsibilities, Poverty, Uncontrolled late-night events/activities, Bad peers, and Alcohol and drug abuse.
The report also further put forward that Adolescent-friendly services should be accessible, acceptable, appropriate, effective, and equitable services.
Adolescent-friendly services should be provided by health workers who are competent and sensitive to the needs of adolescents.
The services should encourage autonomy demonstrate respectful, nonjudgmental attitudes, and maintain privacy and confidentiality.
The adolescents should be involved in planning and delivery of the services in a manner acceptable and convenient for other adolescents This is to save the girl child from the negative forms of teenage pregnancy which may endanger their lives and school dropout.
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