The latest report on the socio-cultural driver’s and barriers towards addressing teenage repeat pregnancies, child marriages and low uptake of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services has named Namayingo at the top in Busoga and second in the entire country.
Namayingo is just behind Mbale and followed by Kween and Kalangala districts.
This was revealed during the 16 days of activism against gender based violence (GBV) in December 2023 by Heros for Genders Transformative Action (Heroes 4GTA). Heroes 4GTA is a joint district-based SRHR programme implemented in partnership with Amref Health Africa as the lead, Cardaid and Mifumi nine high districts.
The report reveals that in Namayingo, the locals have insisted on a bad culture of fundraising for the burial expenses at night in the form of a party will loud music (disco matanga).
The norm pushes teenagers to engage in sexual activities, leading to unwanted pregnancies, resulting to forced marriages.
The qualitative study sought to explore and understand the socio-cultural drivers and barriers surrounding teenage repeat pregnancies in early child or forced marriage in the four aforementioned districts.
Mr Micheal Muyonga the programme manager, notes that one of the programme outcomes is better public and private healthcare for family planning, pregnancies and child-birth, including post-abortion care.
“Currently, the average across the districts stands at 23 percent, and the programme is working towards ensuring that by the end (of the programme life circle), there is an expected reduction of teenage pregnancy to 20 percent,” Mr Muyonga said.
The national average stands at 25 percent, according to a 2020 report by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). The Heroes 4GTA programme is being implemented across nine districts including Kween, Mbale, Karangala, Mayuge, Bukwo, Iganga, Namayingo, Budaka and Bugiri.
The study findings cite a strong relationship between teenage pregnancy and early child or forced marriage across all the regions.
In Mbale district, the report indicates that cultural practices and belief in male circumcision ceremonies have created grounds for teenagers to engage in sexual activities.
In Kween district, the report says female genital mutilation, bada boda riders, local musicians and saloon operators have contributed to the vice because the latter have some disposable money to give to the teenagers.
The report reveals that in Kalangala district, teenage girls force themselves into marriages at an early age because they believe that after a girl starts menstruation, she is ready for marriage.
