Youth Reproductive Health

Uganda has the youngest population in the world, with more than three quarters (73.2%) of the population aged 30 years and below, according to the 2024 population census. Of this, the largest proportion, 50.5% are aged below 18 years. A UN fact sheet indicates that 80% of Uganda’s youth live in rural areas. If this population were educated, healthy, and employed, it would be greatly valuable to society.

However, many young people in Uganda, especially in rural and remote areas, have limited access to youth-friendly sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services and information, this limitation significantly impacts their ability to make informed and healthy life. In many rural areas of Uganda, the provision and uptake of quality adolescent SRHR services remains low, due to sociocultural norms such as the pressure to have children, gender inequalities, and stigmatization by healthcare providers.

HIV/AIDS infection rates among adolescents in Uganda are rising. According to the 2021 Uganda AIDS Commission report, 36% of new HIV infections occur among young people aged 15-19 years, with 70% of these infections affecting adolescent girls.

Additionally, it is documented that most young people who want to prevent unplanned pregnancies do not have adequate access to modern contraception. As a result, some resort to unsafe abortions, which contribute to maternal deaths and injuries. Teenage pregnancy remains a significant issue in Uganda, with 25% of girls aged 15-19 having a child or being pregnant, one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in sub-Saharan Africa. On average, 1,000 teenage pregnancies are reported daily in Uganda, according to Ministry of Health data. In 2021, approximately 250 children under the age of 15 became pregnant each month. Furthermore, 34% of Ugandan girls are married by age 18.

At Remote Health Impact, we are developing sustainable interventions that integrate SRHR community outreaches specifically targeting adolescents and youth in rural and slum areas across Uganda. We are empowering young people to exercise their sexual and reproductive health rights by providing comprehensive sexuality education. Our integrated approaches which include advocacy, capacity building, policy engagement and meaningful youth participation among others ensure that adolescents access SRHR services.