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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Antenatal services for pregnant teenagers in Mbarara Municipality, Southwestern Uganda: health workers and community leaders’ views

Authors: Godfrey Zari Rukundo, Catherine Abaasa, Peace Byamukama Natukunda, Bob Harold Ashabahebwa, Dominic Allain

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Globally, about 11 % of all annual births involve adolescents aged 15–19 years. Uganda has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study assessed stakeholders’ views concerning factors affecting availability, accessibility and utilization of teenager friendly antenatal services in Mbarara Municipality, southwestern Uganda.

Method

This was a cross-sectional descriptive study utilizing Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). It was conducted in three divisions of Mbarara Municipality. The KIIs were held six Village Health Team (VHT) members, three gynecologists, six midwives, three Community leaders (LC 3 Secretaries for women affairs), one police officer from the Family and Child protection unit at Mbarara Police and three Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). Data analysis was done manually by identifying emergent themes which were later coded and organized into concepts which were later developed into explanations.

Results

Reproductive health stakeholders generally considered teenage pregnancy to be among the high risk pregnancies that need to be handled with care. In addition, the reproductive health workers described their experience with teenagers as challenging due to their limited skills when it comes to addressing adolescent-specific needs. Adolescent-friendly services were defined as those that could provide privacy, enough time and patience when dealing with teenagers. With this description, there were no teenager-friendly antenatal services in Mbarara municipality at the time of the study. There is need for proactive steps to establish these services if the needs of this subgroup are to be met.

Conclusion

There are no teenager friendly antenatal services in Mbarara municipality and few teenagers access and utilise the available general antenatal services. There is need for specialized training for health workers who deal with pregnant teens in Mbarara Municipality in order for them to provide teenager friendly services.
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Metadata
Title
Antenatal services for pregnant teenagers in Mbarara Municipality, Southwestern Uganda: health workers and community leaders’ views
Authors
Godfrey Zari Rukundo
Catherine Abaasa
Peace Byamukama Natukunda
Bob Harold Ashabahebwa
Dominic Allain
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-015-0772-0

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