Abuses at Health Facilities during the Maternity Period: Types and Causes among Unmarried Adolescents in Uganda

Peninah Agaba, Makerere University

Unmarried adolescents in Uganda face discrimination at health centres and this leads to poor use of the services. The objective is to explore the types and causes of abuse among unmarried adolescents during the maternity period in Uganda. Fourteen in-depth interviews and eight focus group discussions were carried out among unmarried adolescents in Bushenyi and Kibaale districts in Western Uganda. Seven in-depth interviews with parents and seven key informant interviews among health providers were also conducted. Thematic interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experiences of adolescents was done. Unmarried adolescents were abused both verbally and physically. They were not cared for, not served or served late. This was due to poor dressing, their young age at pregnancy or birth and coming for maternity services with no partners. This affected their use of maternal health services. Better attitudes of health providers towards adolescents will help increase their use of maternal health services.