Prevalence of Teenage Pregnancy and Associated Factors in Agago District, Uganda: A Community-Based Survey

Abstract

Christopher Okot,1 Florence Laker,1 Pamela Okwir Apio,2 Grace Madraa,3 Winnie Kibone,4 Francis Pebalo Pebolo,5 Felix Bongomin6 1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda; 2Makerere Lung Institute, School of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 3Department of Rural Development and Agri-Business, Faculty of Agriculture, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda; 4School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 5Department of Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda; 6Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, UgandaCorrespondence: Felix Bongomin, Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, P.O. Box, 166 Gulu, Uganda, Email [email protected]: Teenage pregnancy remains a common public health and social problem associated with negative health outcomes. We determined the prevalence and factors associated with teenage pregnancy among teenage girls aged 13– 17 years in Agago district, Uganda.Methods: We conducted a community-based, cross-sectional study between October and November 2020 in Lapono Sub-County, Agago district among teenage girls 13– 17 years. Multi-stage sampling technique was used. Parishes, villages, and households were randomly selected (computer generated random numbers were used for household selection). In each household, one participant was randomly selected for interview and pregnancy testing. We collected data on socio-demographic factors using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. All eligible participants were tested for urine human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to determine independent predictors of teenage pregnancy, with p< 0.05 considered statistically significant.Results: A total of 289 eligible participants, with a mean age of 15.1± 1.5 years, were enrolled. Most (n=246, 81.5%) participants had attained primary education, 18 (6.2%) were married, 41 (14.2%) used alcohol, 62 (21.5%) had a history of sexual intercourse and 32 (11.1%) were sexually abused. The prevalence of teenage pregnancy was 2.8% (n=8). Factors significantly associated with teenage pregnancy were alcohol consumption (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 13.2, 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI): 1.7– 100.6, p=0.013) and having secondary/tertiary education (aOR: 10.2, 95% CI: 1.5– 71.9, p=0.02).Conclusion: The study findings suggest that teenage pregnancy is still a public health and social problem in Agago district, Uganda. Interventions discouraging alcohol consumption and promoting education among teenagers are key in addressing the burden of teenage pregnancies in the district.Keywords: teenage pregnancy, human chorionic gonadotropin, Agago, Uganda

Keywords

• teenage pregnancy
• human chorionic gonadotrophin
• agago
• uganda