Factors Associated with Teenage Pregnancy among Refugees in Palabek Refugee Settlement, Northern Uganda.

Abstract Background: Globally, teenage pregnancy is a public health problem. Low- and middle-income countries in the Sub-Saharan region are more affected with teenage pregnancy. It is worse with teenage girls who have other vulnerabilities like living in refugee camps. However, there is little information about teenage pregnancy in refugee camps especially in resource limited areas like Northern Uganda. Objective:To determine the prevalence and the factors associated with teenage pregnancy among refugees in Palabek refugee settlement, Northern Uganda. Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted among teenage girls in Palabek refugee settlement in Northern Uganda. The study estimated a total sample size of 316 teenage girls and they were sampled using systematic random sampling. Data was collected using researcher administered questionnaire and analyzed at univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results: A total of 306 teenagers participated in the study with a response rate of 98.6%. The study reveals that the prevalence of teenage pregnancy among teenage girls in Palabek refugee settlement, Northern Uganda was 41.2%. The factors associated with teenage pregnancy among teenage girls in Palabek refugee settlement included: being in the age group between 15-19 years of age (aOR=6.31, 95%CI 1.75-22.76, p=0.005), Not being in school (aOR=5, 95%CI2.30-10.87,p<0.001), being unmarried (aOR=0.21, 95%CI 0.09-0.45, p<0.001), having the first sexual intercourse after 18 years of age (aOR=2.4, 95%CI 1.05-5.48 , p=0.037), having multiple sexual partners (aOR=3.11, 95%CI 0.13-0.74, p=0.008), alcohol use (aOR=6.67, 95%CI2.24-18.39,p=0.008), being aware of Sexual reproductive health services (aOR=0.42, 95%CI0.18-0.94, p=0.036), and being in a family that divorced (aOR=2.38, 95% CI1.17-4.86, p=0.017). Conclusion: Study results reveal that 4 in 10 teenage girls in Palabek, Northern Uganda, are pregnant, influenced by individual, community, and health system factors. This highlights vulnerabilities in refugee camps, urging prioritization of sexual and reproductive health for adolescent girls in refugee camps.