Publications

In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 14 million pregnancies arise annually, with almost halfoccurring among women aged 15–19. Uganda saw 25% of young women in that age bracketbeginning childbearing in 2015. The primary aim of the study was to identify factorsinfluencing teenage pregnancy among adolescent mothers receiving antenatal care at FortPortal Regional Referral Hospital in Kabarole district. Using a cross-sectional descriptivedesign, 288 teenage girls were randomly selected for participation. The majority (51.4%) fellwithin the 17-19 age range, 72.9% were unmarried, 54.5% had attained a Secondary educationlevel, and most (60.4%) lived in rural areas. The teenage pregnancy rate stood at 25.7%.Individual factors significantly linked to teenage pregnancy included inadequatecontraceptive use and alcohol misuse. Household-related factors associated with teenagepregnancy encompassed orphanhood, low-income status (poverty), absence of parentalguidance, and teenage girls not residing with their parents. Community factors significantlytied to teenage pregnancy among those attending antenatal care at Fort Portal regionalreferral hospital included peer influence, exposure to pornographic content, limited accessto reproductive health services, and cultural norms. These cultural practices involved earlyand arranged marriages, along with coerced sex with witch doctors disguised as healers.The researcher suggested that Uganda's government establish additional centers,particularly in rural areas, to address limited access to reproductive health services.Additionally, regulating alcohol and drug use among teenagers by restricting access to thesesubstances was recommended.Keywords: Teenage Pregnancies, Antenatal care, teenage mothers, teenage girls, Parents.