Contraceptive use among young women of pastoral communities of Karamoja sub-region in Uganda

Abstract

Sexual and reproductive health is an important part of general health globally recognised in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3. Access to sexual and reproductive health services such as contraception provides young people with the opportunity to make informed choices regarding reproductive health. However, poor sexual and reproductive health is evident in numerous forms including sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion. In this paper, we examine the experiences of contraceptive use among young women living in pastoral communities. Findings derive from a qualitative contextual analysis of adolescent sexual and reproductive health conducted in the Karamoja sub-region of Uganda. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted with married young women aged 15–19. Audio recordings and field notes were taken during interviews. Thematic data analysis was conducted aided by Atlas.ti software. Findings reveal that young women living in pastoralist communities experience challenges which deter their use of contraception. Contraceptive use experiences, socio-cultural values and practices, the attitudes of service providers, and livelihood necessities of pastoralism cause low uptake of contraception. Adequate understanding of the experiences and associated values encountered by such vulnerable and marginalised groups in the use of contraception is critical in addressing the challenge to achieving SDG targets.

Keywords:

• Young women
• experiences
• contraception
• pastoralists
• Uganda

Acknowledgements

We thank Betty Nakiru and Hellen Alaka for their valuable assistance in data collection. We also thank Julius Ecuru from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology for his valuable contribution to this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 A kraal is a place where livestock is kept. It is enclosed with a fence made of thorny wood branches and surrounded by huts (manyattas) of herders and their families.

2 Peer mothers were young women chosen by local NGOs to promote the sexual and reproductive health of peers and, in particular, access to sexual and reproductive health services.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).