Call for new innovations to address teenage pregnancy

TEENAGE | PREGNANCY | INNOVATIONS

There is need for empowering young people to develop innovative programs aimed at addressing disparities in teen pregnancy prevention in Uganda. 

According to the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS 2016), teenage pregnancy is alarming at 25% while unsafe abortions and maternal mortality are at 28% of maternal deaths occurring among young women (15-24 years). 

Anne Sizomu, the Programme Specialist, Adolescent & Youth SRH at UNFPA noted that the current state of country SRHR indicators demands immediate and integrated innovative action, especially for adolescents and young people in Uganda.  

“We need to innovate and adapt as well as be open to learning from communities and young people in terms of what works. Because there is no one size for all and communities and youth are part of the solution,” Sizomu said.  

Sizomu said this during her address to the 2021 World Contraceptive Day Webinar on Thursday. The Webinar was held under the theme; “Innovations for improved Access to Contraceptives for Young People.” 

Currently, the unmet need for family planning among adolescents (15-19) stands high at 30.4%.  

Sizomu tasked stakeholders to acknowledge the fact that among other things, the rise in teenage pregnancy rates is a result of blocked access to contraceptive services for young people.  

“These blockages, especially considering the barriers brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, demand innovation around making contraceptives more accessible for young people,” Sizomu said. 

Reports indicate that COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the teenage pregnancy situation and the undesirable maternal health outcomes.  

The District Health Information Systems (DHIS) data for the first half of 2021 shows that 52% of maternal deliveries were recorded among young people less than 25 years of age. 

Additionally, 22% of all abortion cases reported during the same period were among adolescents 10-19 years.  

“Despite the unprecedented challenges in the field of SRHR for young people, it is important for us to quickly innovate around how best to address these challenges to meet the SRHR needs of women and girls,” said Josephine Namuyingo, a peer mother at Naguru Teenage Information and Health Centre said. 

Lillibet Namakula, the team leader, Public Health Ambassadors Uganda (PHAU noted that the webinar was a platform for young people to not only interact with others but also share their perspectives on their SRHR and contraceptive needs in the new COVID 19 normal. 

“The pandemic has not only disrupted the normal way of life but also created a range of new SRHR challenges - increasing the need for contraceptive information and service among young people, now more than ever before,” Namakula said. 

She said that despite the progress made a lot more needs to be done to promote the availability, accessibility and acceptability of modern contraceptives among young people (especially female adolescents). 

“We need solutions and innovations for improved access to contraceptives for young people,” Namakula said. 

In a country where over 76% of the population is already under the age of 30 years old, the growing rates of teenage pregnancies mean that there will be a huge population bulge and a high dependency ratio in years to come. 

This will not only affect the lives of young people but also cause a reversal in progress of Uganda’s Sustainable Development Goal achievements.  

Key innovations to address SRHR 

UNFPA is working with the Ministry of Health and other key partners like Jumia, to bring the services to young people through the Jumia e-shop, where young people are able to order contraceptive services using their smartphones and they are delivered to their doorsteps.  

“We are also working with teams on ground to safely conduct outreaches to reach young people with correct information and referral for services,” she said. 

Working closely with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, UNFPA launched the Safepal app which greatly helped to address issues of sexual gender-based violence, sexual reproductive health, HIV and malaria among young people; especially during the pandemic.  

UNFPA also supported the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to strengthen the SAUTI helpline which improves reporting cases of sexual and gender-based violence for young people across the country.