Factors influencing Teenage Pregnancy among Youth in Kirumba Village Masaka District. A Cross-sectional Study.

Abstract

Background: 

According to United Nations for Children Fund (UNICEF), teenage pregnancy is a global problem and creates issues for all those concerned about young women and their health and well-being. This study assessed factors influencing teenage pregnancy among youth in kirumba village Masaka district.

Methodology: 

A descriptive cross-sectional study in which qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were used in Kirumba village. The researcher utilized convenience sampling of 100 respondents from December 2021 to March 2022. The data collection process was for 13 days using self-administered questionnaires which were filled, cleaned, and later analyzed using tables.  

Results: 

Out of the 100 respondents in the study, the majority of the respondents were 18 years old with 39%, 24% of the respondents were 17 years old, 16% were 16 years old,11% of the respondents were 15 years old and 10% of the respondents were 19 years old. Low use of contraceptives was the most cause of teenage pregnancy by 56%, the findings showed a majority of the female respondents (98%) knew about the prevention of teenage pregnancy and 73% showed an appositive attitude towards the use of contraceptive methods in the prevention of teenage pregnancy. 

Conclusion: 

Based on the findings of the study, most female adolescents had good knowledge about the prevention of teenage pregnancy (98%), and emergency contraceptives (87%).and these were willing to control teenage pregnancy.

Recommendations: 

Greater understanding of the individual and contextual factors influencing practices for the prevention of teenage pregnancy can aid in the development of salient, culturally appropriate policies and programs to mitigate teenage pregnancies.