Magnitude of Prior Teenage Pregnancy among Women Aged 18–67 Years in Rural Southwestern Uganda

Abstract

Objective: Teenage pregnancy is a growing health challenge among adolescents in Uganda with its magnitude varying across the different regions of Uganda. This study evaluated the magnitude and factors associated with prior teenage pregnancy among women aged 18-67 years in a rural community of Kasese district, Uganda Results: Fifty-two percent (52%) of the 138 women interviewed, had a prior teenage pregnancy. Having experienced a teenage pregnancy was independently associated with; occupation of current household heads (adjusted odds ratio, aOR= 0.2, 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.1 – 0.9), whether or not the current household could adequately meet their food needs (aOR= 0.1, 95% CI: 0.01 – 0.8), and whether the current household shared toilet facilities (aOR= 4.7, 95% CI: 1.0 – 21.8). Conclusion: The findings suggest that magnitude of prior teenage pregnancy among women in this rural community is much higher than the national average. Socio economic factors at household level are contributory to prior teenage pregnancy. A multi sectoral approach integrating household livelihood improvement with health interventions targeting the girl child is proposed to curb teenage pregnancy in this context.