Explaining trends of premarital childbearing among young women in Uganda

Young motherhood is associated with persistently high rates of fertility and adverse maternal, neonatal and social outcomes in many sub-Saharan African countries. This study examined the trends and explained the persistence of high incidence of premarital childbearing among sexually active unmarried...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:African population studies 2015-04, Vol.29 (2S)
Main Author: Natal Ayiga
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Age groups
Age of onset
Childbearing
Childbirth & labor
Demographics
Education
Educational attainment
Female headed households
Females
Fertility
Health surveys
Households
Low level
Mothers
Neonates
Partnerships
Polls & surveys
Residence
Rural areas
Rural communities
Rural schools
Sexual behavior
Trends
Young women
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Summary:Young motherhood is associated with persistently high rates of fertility and adverse maternal, neonatal and social outcomes in many sub-Saharan African countries. This study examined the trends and explained the persistence of high incidence of premarital childbearing among sexually active unmarried women in Uganda. Cross-sectional data from the 2001, 2006 and 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Surveys were used. The study revealed that across the span of the study period the prevalence of premarital childbearing remained high and stable at more than 25% in all the three surveys. Premarital childbearing is significantly predicted by age group 20–24, young age at sexual debut, female headed households, and households headed by the young women themselves, low level of education, rural residence and multiple lifetime sexual partnerships. Increasing and maintaining access to programmes that increase age at sexual debut, level of education and reduce number of lifetime sex partners are recommended.
ISSN:0850-5780
2308-7854
DOI:10.11564/29-2-774