Predisposing Factors Associated with Teenage Pregnancy in Lake Victoria Islands and Mountain Districts of Uganda

Abstract

Background: There is a high teenage pregnancy rate in Lake Victoria Island and Mountain districts of Uganda. Teenage pregnancy leads to unsafe abortions, infant and maternal mortality, high rate of unemployment, and school drop-outs. This paper aims at establishing the factors influencing teenage pregnancy in Uganda Lake Victoria Island shoreline area and mountain districts. Methods: The analysis focused on 405 girls aged 15–19 years, generated from the 2016 Uganda demographic and Health Survey. The chi-square test statistic was used to establish factors associated with teenage pregnancy. Unadjusted and adjusted binary logistic regression analysis were conducted on explanatory variables to establish the predictors of teenage pregnancy in the Lake Victoria Island districts and the mountain districts. Statistical significance was considered at 5% level. Results: The findings show that teenage pregnancy rate was at 48% in the Lake Victoria Island districts and at 24% in the mountain districts. Predictors of teenage pregnancy include; aged 18 – 19 years (AOR=4.78, p=0.000, 95% CI 2.85 – 8.01), being in a female-headed household (AOR=0.46, p=0.004, 95% CI 0.25 – 0.85), being in a “working” occupation (AOR=2.22, p=0.005, 95% CI 1.28 – 3.85), belonging to the “rich” quintile (AOR=0.54, p=0.03, 95% CI 0.31 – 0.97) and knowledge of any family planning methods (AOR=18.37, p=0.008, 95% CI=2.17 – 155.5)., Conclusion: The factors associated with high teenage pregnancy in the Uganda Lake Victoria Island shoreline area and mountain districts include; age, sex of household head, occupation (not working), socio-economic status and knowledge of family planning methods. There is need for programs that promote contraceptive use among teenagers and household wealth creation projects, with special attention to dwellers in remote and hard-to-reach areas of the country.