Modern contraceptive use among female refugee adolescents in northern Uganda: prevalence and associated factors
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Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Reproductive Health
Abstract
Background: Adolescent pregnancies are persistently high among refugees. The pregnancies have been attributed
to low contraceptive use in this population. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors
associated with modern contraceptive use among female refugee adolescents in northern Uganda.
Methods: This was a cross sectional study using both descriptive and analytical techniques. The study was carried
out in Palabek refugee settlement in Northern Uganda from May to July 2019. A total of 839 refugee adolescents
who were sexually active or in-union were consecutively enrolled. Interviewer administered questionnaires were
used for data collection.
Results: Modern contraceptive prevalence was 8.7% (95% CI: 7.0 to 10.8). The injectable was the most commonly
used modern contraceptive method [42.5% (95% CI: 31.5 to 54.3)], and most of the participants had used the
contraceptives for 6 months or less (59.7%). Reasons for not using modern contraceptives included fear of side
effects (39.3%), partner prohibition (16.4%), and the desire to become pregnant (7.0%). Participants who were
married (OR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.35, p < 0.001), cohabiting (OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.93, p = 0.032) or having
an older partner (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.86 to 0.99, p = 0.046) were less likely to use modern contraceptives.
Conclusion: Modern contraceptive use among female refugee adolescents was very low, and few reported a desire
to become pregnant, leaving them vulnerable to unplanned pregnancies. Least likely to use modern contraceptives
were participants who were married/cohabiting and those having older partners implying a gender power
imbalance in fertility decision making. There is an urgent need for innovations to address the gender and power
imbalances within relationships, which could shape fertility decision-making and increase modern contraceptive use
among refugee adolescents.
Description
Keywords
Modern contraceptives, Contraception, Refugees, Adolescents
Citation
Bakesiima, R., Cleeve, A., Larsson, E., Tumwine, J. K., Ndeezi, G., Danielsson, K. G., ... & Kashesya, J. B. (2020). Modern contraceptive use among female refugee adolescents in northern Uganda: prevalence and associated factors. Reproductive Health, 17(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-020-00921-y