CONCEPT NOTE

Teenage Pregnancies, New HIV Infections, and Mental Health Challenges among the
Youth.
Background.
The current teenage pregnancy rate in Uganda is 25% which is the highest in East Africa. At
9 million, adolescents comprise a quarter of Uganda's population. According to UNICEF,
49% of 20-49-year-old women are married by age 18.15% are married by age 15. 1 in 4
teenage girls are pregnant or have a child.
66% of all new HIV infections are contracted by adolescent girls. 78% in primary and 82%
in secondary school aged 10-18 in Acholi and Karamoja have been sexually abused, with
67% reporting that they were abused by a male teacher.
According to UNFPA, Uganda’s maternal mortality ratio stood at 336 deaths per 100,000
living births, and regarding maternal mortality rates, 17.2% of the deaths were among those
aged 15-19.
“Girls (unmarried) who produce children at home are normally mistreated and stigmatized.
The parents of the girl may start to mistreat her because it brings shame to the family. The
girl’s education is stopped due to pregnancy. The mother and child lack assistance and the
community laughs at them. ” Teenage out of school girl, Kapchorwa.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics UBOS (2018), almost a quarter of Ugandan
women have given birth by the age of 18. An average of 1,000 pregnancies are reported per
day according to the Ministry of Health data.
Children below the age of 15 account for 11% of the 1.6 million Ugandans living with HIV
(2013 estimates). Preliminary data from the 2016 Uganda Population-based HIV Impact
assessment shows an 18% decline in HIV prevalence in the general population (15-49) from
7.3% in 2011 to 6.0% in 2016.
HIV prevalence triples from young people aged 15-19 years (1.1%). Testing for HIV among
young people is much lower in those aged 15-19 years (47.3%) compared to those aged 20-
24 years (84.4%).
Statistics show that mental disorders and anxiety disorders in Uganda are at 22.9% in
children 24.2% in adults, 14.4% in children, and 20.2% in adults respectively.
Rationale.
The problem of teenage pregnancies and HIV continues to be rampant in Uganda. This is due
to a number of reasons like lack of information about sexual and reproductive health and
rights, inadequate access to services tailored to young people, family, community and social
pressure to marry, sexual violence, child, early, and forced marriages, which can be both a
cause and a consequence.
Therefore, the National Population Council plans to curb this problem through effective
sensitization of teenagers about sexual activities, dangers, and consequences. This is to be
done by making the study visual.
Objective
To sensitize the youth about Teenage pregnancy, HIV, and Mental health.
To educate both parents and teenagers about sex education and its relevance.
To establish the different ways of curbing the problem of teenage pregnancy, HIV, and
Mental health.
Methodology
There shall be use of visual presentation, through educative plays on different television
channels.
Educational personnel shall visit different schools and engage in educative talks with the
youths about the above issues.
Expected output
Sex education and its relevance to both parents and teenagers.
Ascertain the different causes of teenage pregnancy and address them.
Sensitize the youth about the above issues.