FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO EARLY PREGNANCY AMONG TEEN AGED GIRLS IN ISHAKA-BUSHENYI MUNICIPALITY

ABSTRACT.

INTRODUCTION

The research study was carried out in Ishaka -Bushenyi in Bushenyi District. The specific objectives of the study were to assess the teenage girls level of knowledge of reproductive health in general, to assess the social economic factors associated with pregnancy and to assess the cultural factors associated with pregnancy.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted, a sample of 100 teenage mothers age 13 too 19 years in Ishaka Town municipality answered structural questionnaire

RESULTS

More than half of respondents 83(83%) were not married, (79(79%), were peasant, (60(60%) had their education up to primary level.\

The study revealed that most of the respondents (91(91%) defined teenage pregnancy as pregnancy in teens, 54(54%) did not know the complications of teenage pregnancy, 52(52%) did not know what age the uterus matured.

Most of the participants 88(88%) had sex because of their life styles, a greater proportion 89(89%) did not have parental talk about teenage pregnancy, 69(69%) knew a condom was.

Majority of the participants 91(91%) where not forced to get pregnant, 96(96%) started their menstruation at the age of 13 to 15, 58(58%) got pregnant at the of 16 to 17 years and 9(9%) were not married.

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RECOMMENDATION

Form the study it in concluded that the burden of teenage pregnancy still persisted in females who have early menarche, who come from poor families, with low level of education and lack parental guidance.

Parents should be encouraged to welcome and implement government programs for example Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) which has expanded access to education for all Ugandans, to reduce the burden of low education.

There is need to enlighten the communities in rural areas on job creation and taking part in income generating activities to reduce the burden of unemployment and poverty.