An assessment of the use of small group communication in curbing teenage pregnancy among girls living with HIV in Uganda

Abstract

In Uganda, one in four teenage girls aged 15 - 19 years have had a child or are pregnant and 42% of all pregnancies among adolescents are un-intended. With an unmet need of family planning among adolescents of 30.4%, it 's no surprise that 25 percent of Ugandan adolescent girls become pregnant by the age of 19. Adolescence being a critical stage in life and more so, for teenage girls living with HIV, this study draws attention to the use of small group communication as an approach to address the challenge of teenage pregnancy among girls living with HIV. Using a survey through a structured questionnaire to collect information from 120 teenage girls living with HIV, and key informant interviews for health workers, caregivers and subject matter experts, this study assessed the use of small group communication in curbing teenage pregnancy among girls living with HIV in Uganda. Premised 0 11 the Social Cognitive Theory and the Social Ecological Model. the study revealed the need for teenagers living with HIV to be in support groups with peers. There was high attendance of the peer support group meetings especially by individuals at the onset of adolescence attending adolescents/teens club. Findings indicate that peer support groups provide a platform for teenagers to speak out and freely express themselves, share experiences on critical and life-saving information on condom use, contraceptives, HIV status disclosure and adherence to ARV drugs. This information empowers teenagers, boosts their self-esteem and facilitates behavioral change and adoption of desired practices by group members that is critical to the reduction of teenage pregnancy and HIV transmission. Despite the benefits of small group communication to the teenagers. it has challenges of negative peer influence, the lack of transport fare for the teenagers to attend peer support group meetings at the health facility, and the school programs were many teenagers in boarding schools miss attending the peer support meetings. It is imperative that Small Group Communication through peer support groups encourage reduction of high-risk sexual behaviour, disclosure of HIV status to actual and potential sexual partners and contraceptive use in the effort to reduce pregnancy and HIV transmission among teenage girls living with HIV in Uganda.