1. CAUSES OF TEENAGE PREGNANCIES
Teenage pregnancy is defined as pregnancies occurring between thirteen and nineteen years of age. According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics UBOS (2018), almost a quarter (one in four) of Ugandan women has given birth by the age of 18. Especially after the covid pandemic, teenage pregnancies were increasing. Over the past 2 years, statistics found 32.000 teenagers getting pregnant every month!
Poll Nine Infographic Report
2. ACCIDENTAL TEENAGE PREGNANCIES
In our previous poll, we found that most teenage pregnancies follow from young people practicing unsafe sex and accidentally getting pregnant. 63% of the 12.000 respondents agreed this was the main reason for teenage pregnancies. Preventing ‘accidental’ teenage pregnancies should therefore be the first priority to reduce teenage pregnancy numbers.
Poll Ten Infographic Report
3. GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AFTER PREGNANCY
Educated girls become educated women who play an important role in developing Uganda. Many countries in East Africa recorded high numbers of teenage pregnancies during the COVID-19 lockdown. In some parts of Uganda there was a 50% increase in the number of teenage pregnancies during Covid lockdowns. Now that schools have started again, many teenage mothers do not return to class for various reasons.
Poll Eleven Infographic Report
3. HOW TO ADDRESS SHAME
In the previous poll we have seen that the biggest challenge for girls about going back to school is that they feel ashamed about it. When it comes to teenage pregnancies, girls carry the heaviest burden compared to boys. Yet, both girls and boys are equally responsible for the pregnancy.