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Teenage pregnancy rates in northern Uganda remain lower than the national average, says the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr Diana Atwine.

She says the low numbers call for sustained efforts to bring these rates even lower.

Atwine says challenges remain, particularly in delivering quality Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information and services to adolescents and youth.

A total of 15 Districts in West Nile and Acholi region have benefited from Advancing Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (ANSWER) programme that contributed to the achievement of universal access to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

The programme was implemented in Madi-Okollo, Yumbe, Koboko, Adjumani, Obongi, Terego, Lamwo, Arua (Arua City), Zombo, Nebbi, Maracha, Moyo, Pakwach, Amuru, and Agago districts.  

Researchers who evaluated the programme and presented the results in Kampala on Wednesday, April 6, found that there was an increase in SRHR information for young people.

A total of 474,634 young people were reached. Also, 577 schools were supported with sex education sessions.

However, they say there is a need to reach more out-of-school youth with SRHR information and services and behaviour change interventions, and there is also need for more emphasis on their livelihood empowerment.

According to some research, the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Northern Uganda is about 25%.

Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world, with 75% aged below 30 years.

Reports show in 2021, during the covid-19 pandemic, about 32, 566 teenage girls got pregnant monthly an equivalent of 1,052 daily. also, about 250 children aged below 15 years got pregnant monthly.

Teenage pregnancy is associated with serious pregnancy and childbirth complications such as eclampsia, fistula, infections, and death largely due to immaturity and lack of readiness of the reproductive organs of teenage girls between 10-19 years to accommodate the physiological changes of pregnancy.

Experts say addressing teenage pregnancy in Uganda is key to meeting the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 targets of ensuring healthy lives and well-being at all ages.

It is also key in meeting the National Development Plan III, Health Sector Strategic Plans I and II and Uganda’s Vision 2040 for Sustainable Development.