More teen on contraceptives to avoid second pregnancy

Many adolescents taking contraceptives are single mothers. Photo by Rachel Mabala. 

Marie Stopes Uganda, a company that provides a range of sexual and reproductive health services in the country has observed a growing number of children embracing the use of family planning methods to delay pregnancy.
Speaking in an interview on Sunday, Richard Kintu, the head of communications, said unlike the past where people thought family planning methods were restricted to married couples, children entering reproductive age are realising that they can delay pregnancy by using family planning methods.

“Previously, people thought contraceptives were only for married people but we have many unmarried women who are getting unplanned children,” he said adding that most children enrolling for contraceptives are those who became pregnant when they were not yet 18 years old and have ended up being single mothers.

“Our services target all age groups but we are seeing that 43 percent of the clients accessing our services are children entering the reproductive age because they want to delay pregnancy or to avoid becoming pregnant at a young age. Most of them are single mothers who are struggling to look after the children,” Kintu said.
Last week, the Ministry of Gender and Social Development said the country is seeing an increasing number of child mothers, a trend attributed to absence of programmes to address the special needs of children joining adolescence.

While opening a consultative meeting for creation of a programme aimed at managing this age-group, Gender and Labour minister Muruli Mukasa said if effectively supported and empowered, adolescent girls have the potential to change the world as workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads and political leaders.

“An investment in realising the power of the adolescent girl upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention and global sustainability,” he said.

Last Sunday, Marie Stopes acquired a local song titled Kababe ba kigero loosely translated into “Have only those children you have planned for”, from local artiste Moses Ssozi.
According to the company spokesperson, the song is to be translated into different languages to spread the message of family planning.

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