Health 14 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Faces Alarming 42% Unintended Pregnancy Rate, Ministry Boosts Postpartum Family Planning
The Ministry of Health in Uganda is intensifying efforts to promote postpartum family planning as new data reveals that 42% of pregnancies are unintended, disproportionately affecting young women. This surge strains public health resources amidst a high national fertility rate. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/unintended-pregnancies-hit-42-as-health-ministry-pushes-postpartum-family-planning-5557942
Recent statistics from Uganda’s Ministry of Health indicate a concerning trend: 42% of all pregnancies are unintended, with a significant burden falling on teenage girls and young women. This comes as the nation grapples with a high fertility rate, currently averaging 5.2 children per woman, which places considerable pressure on public health services.
Dr. Richard Mugahi, Commissioner for Maternal and Child Health, highlighted the issue, emphasizing that unintended pregnancies often lead to young women dropping out of school and facing premature adulthood. To combat this, the Ministry is expanding access to family planning services, with a particular focus on immediate postpartum care. The aim is to provide new mothers with contraceptive options shortly after childbirth, as fertility can return within weeks.
“No woman wants a pregnancy one month after delivery,” stated Dr. Mugahi, underscoring the risks of closely spaced pregnancies for both mothers and families. The Ministry assures that sufficient family planning supplies and trained personnel are available to support this nationwide scale-up.
During an event at Kawempe National Women’s Hospital, where new delivery beds and maternity equipment were donated by Marie Stopes Uganda, officials discussed the critical role of family planning. Professor Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services, noted that improvements in maternal healthcare have reduced maternal mortality, but family planning remains a crucial complementary strategy.
Kawempe Hospital has seen success through a partnership with Marie Stopes Uganda, integrating family planning counselling into antenatal visits. This initiative allows women to choose a contraceptive method within 48 hours of delivery. The hospital has seen its family planning uptake rate rise from a low baseline to over 28% in the last two years, a model the Ministry hopes to replicate across the country.