ADOLESCENT MOTHERS AND THEIR

CHILDREN

A case study of

needs, resource availability and constraints to care

in a rural area of Eastern Uganda

MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

BY

HANIFA BACHOU, M.B. ChB.

Senior House Officer

Mulago Hospital

SPONSORING INSTITUTION(S): CHILD HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

STARTING DATE: OCTOBER 91

COMPLETION DATE: FEBRUARY 1992

DATE OF SUBMISSION: AUGUST 91

SUPERVISOR: DR. C. KARAMAGI

TECHNICAL ADVISOR: DR. T. BARTON

ABSTRACT

Adolescent motherhood is a worldwide problem affecting both mother and child, carrying with it the risk of increased child morbidity and mortality. The adolescent mother suffers severe consequences of psychological, emotional, educational, health and socio-economic well-being. Just as researchers are looking into ways and means of preventing adolescent pregnancy, so should the post-facto phenomenon be looked at because of the increased vulnerability of both mother and child.

The objectives of this study are to identify the needs, available resources and existing constraints to health that are faced by the adolescent mother and her child in a rural setting and to make operational suggestions regarding improvement in their well being. The study will be conducted in Kiyeyi - Tororo district between October 1991 and March 1992. About 210 adolescent mothers between ages 10 - 17 shall be sampled by 30 cluster 7 quota design. Focus group discussions, key informant interviews and a supplementary observational study be carried out. Data analysis shall be carried out by the principal investigator using EPI-INFO software package.

KEYWORDS[ adolescents, reproductive health, adolescent fertility, nutrition, stigma, immunisation]