Health authorities in Masaka District have raised concern over a sharp rise in abortion cases, with adolescents aged 15 to 19 making up more than three-quarters of the reported incidents over the past year.
Speaking at a Media Science Café organised by the Health Journalists Network in Uganda, District Health Officer Dr Faith Nakiyemba said 91 abortion cases were recorded in health facilities across the district in the last year. Of these, more than 75 percent involved teenage girls between 15 and 19 years.
“It is deeply concerning that most of the abortion cases we are receiving in our health facilities involve adolescents between 15 and 19 years,” Dr Nakiyemba said.
“These are young girls whose bodies are not fully prepared for pregnancy, yet they are already facing life-threatening complications.”
She noted that some cases involved very young girls, underscoring the vulnerability of children in the area.
Dr Nakiyemba attributed the trend to poverty, limited access to accurate reproductive health information, and gender-based violence.
She said while some pregnancies result from coercion, preliminary findings indicate that many stem from consensual relationships among young people who lack adequate knowledge and access to family planning services.
“Poverty is pushing many young girls into risky relationships,” she said. “When young people do not have the right information or access to services, they are more likely to make decisions that put their health at risk.”
Although abortion is restricted under Ugandan law, the practice continues, often in unsafe conditions. The Penal Code criminalises abortion, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison. However, unsafe abortions remain a contributor to maternal deaths nationwide.
National estimates indicate that about 314,300 induced abortions occurred in Uganda in 2013, translating to a rate of 39 per 1,000 women aged 15–49. Unsafe abortions are estimated to account for between 5 and 8 percent of maternal deaths in the country.
Dr Nakiyemba warned that many girls and women who undergo abortions delay seeking medical care, resulting in severe complications.
“Many of these girls come to us when it is already too late,” she said. “We are seeing complications such as severe infections, excessive bleeding, infertility, and in extreme cases, obstetric fistula. Some of these conditions permanently affect their health and future fertility.”
Residents interviewed in Masaka expressed mixed views on family planning. One male resident cited resistance to condom use among some partners, saying the financial burden of unintended pregnancies often falls heavily on men.
Meanwhile, several women said side effects from certain contraceptive methods, including prolonged menstruation, discourage continued use.
Health experts acknowledge that some methods may cause side effects but emphasise that proper counselling can help individuals choose suitable options.
District officials are now calling for a multi-sectoral response, including strengthening sexuality education, expanding youth-friendly health services, addressing poverty, and tackling gender-based violence.
“This is not just a health issue — it is a social and economic issue,” Dr Nakiyemba said. “We must work together as parents, leaders, schools and health workers to protect our young people and give them accurate information and support before they find themselves in dangerous situations.”
Health authorities warn that without urgent intervention, unsafe abortions will continue to endanger the lives and futures of young girls in the district.