Social Norms and Premarital Use of Family Planning among Adolescents and Young People in Uganda

Justine Bukenya, Makerere University
Melissa Stillman, mstillman@guttmacher.org
Tonny Ssekamatte, Makerere University, School of Public Health
Robinah Komuhendo, Makerere University
Rose Stevens, Oxford University
Ann M. Moore, Guttmacher Institute

Many countries struggle to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS). In Uganda, the median age at first sex is 16.4 years yet the legal age for marriage is 18 years. This study explores how social norms impact unmarried youth’s access to SRHS. We conducted 24 FGDs with young people (15-24 years) including refugees. The findings revealed negative perceptions of premarital sex. Young people engaging in premarital sex face discrimination and are subjected to other negative community sanctions including physical beating, imprisonment, and forced marriage fines. Refugees engaging in premarital sex may be socially forced out of their communities. Premarital sex is associated with prostitutes and such negative attitudes deter young people from seeking services and information. Health providers maltreat young childless persons by illegally demanding their parents' or partners’ consent. Such mistreatments discourage utilization of SRHS, and promote unsafe sex practices, exposing them to STIs and unintended pregnancies yet becoming pregnant before marriage was associated with numerous consequences. Young people are faced with compounding realities of early sexual initiation, and low access to, and utilization of, family planning due to the negative social norms prevailing. There is a need for human-centered family programs to reduce unwanted teenage pregnancies.

Keywords: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Family Planning and Contraception, Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination

See extended abstract.