Audio 1 – Runyankore-Rukiga version
Audio 2 – English version
YouTube (English) https://youtu.be/R_Z8aJ_gEnc
YouTube (Runyankore-Rukiga) https://youtu.be/JaKhxi7p6Uc
SoundCloud https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/3qSBB
Uganda registered at least 644,955 teenage pregnancies in 2 years during the COVID-19 lockdown, 5 times higher than coronavirus positive cases. About 250 children below 15 years impregnated monthly! In this May & June 2022 in-depth story; “DOES THE TEENAGE PREGNANCY PANDEMIC SHOW THE NEED FOR SEXUALITY EDUCATION?”, Mr. Aaron Ainomugisha of Rise News Uganda, a Joint Advocacy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Uganda-JAS Programme 2022 media fellow investigated what these victims are going through, what applicable & effective mechanisms could be put to prevent & mitigate the threat, systems & structures and whether the government, religious leaders & other stakeholders have picked lessons in regard to the need for SEXUALITY EDUCATION – focusing on western Uganda, connecting the dots in other parts of the country.
In western Uganda, Kasese district which was the 3rd in registering high number of teenage pregnancies nationwide, registered 22,548 cases in 2019, 20 & 21. A 16-year old s.1 student at Hima Progressive High School gave birth, but could breastfeed the baby in the morning, hide the baby in the bush and breastfeed again in the evening until authorities realized this.
In other areas; Isingiro district 12,409 teenage preganancy cases, Kyegegwa 12,737, Kamwenge 8,328, Ntungamo 7,694, Mbarara City & District 6,489, Ibanda 4,733, Sheema 2,583, Rwampara 1,808, Kiruhura 3,525, Kazo 3,535, among other cases registered between 2019 & 21 in different districts across Uganda.
There is an interrelationship between early childbearing & low education attainment, which negatively impacts our communities especially hindering the National Development Plans. Being born of a mother or father below the age of 18 increases the risks & negative outcomes like maternal mortality, bad health, domestic violence & poverty. 1 in 4 girls in Uganda aged 15-19 – forming 25% – have had a child. 34% of Ugandan girls are married by 18 years and 28% maternal deaths occur among young girls of 15-25 yrs. Young people are responsible for the spread of HIV 34% annually. In 2021, about 31,566 teenage girls got pregnant monthly across Uganda – equivalent to 1,052 daily and about 250 children below 15 years got pregnant monthly. Stakeholders implored to jointly & strongly fight Gender-based Violence (GBV).
Story by Aaron Ainomugisha, supported by Centre for Health, Human Rights & Development-CEHURD and partners in the Joint Advocacy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Uganda-JAS Programme.
RISE NEWS UGANDA on TWITTER https://twitter.com/RiseNewsUganda/status/1543472306520997888?s=20&t=U2_uFhGT1pPg20r8mFG_4g