Serious Citizens Part 3: Teenage Pregnancy in Uganda

The Serious Citizens Interactive Radio Campaign – Part 3: Teenage Pregnancy in Uganda was conducted by Trac FM from October 2022 to February 2023. Through radio talk shows and SMS polls across nine stations, the campaign gathered 44,200 responses on the causes, consequences, and solutions to teenage pregnancy. The findings revealed a disconnect between government policies and public perception, highlighting unsafe sex—not child marriage—as the leading cause. The campaign sparked national debate and informed data-driven advocacy aimed at improving reproductive health education and support for teen mothers.

POLL 4

If the government was to extend small business loans, who do you think should be given priority?

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Total Responses

Total

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Unknown Responses

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Radio Stations

Radio Stations

BACKGROUND

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RADIO STATIONS

Radio 1

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POLL QUESTION.

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Location Responses

1. Campaign Background

Teenage pregnancy is a pressing public health and development issue in Uganda, costing the country approximately UGX 645 billion annually. The campaign responded to the high rates of teen pregnancies by addressing the causes, prevention strategies, and reintegration of teen mothers into schools. Trac FM employed interactive radio talk shows combined with real-time SMS polling to collect opinions from rural and urban Ugandans. The campaign ran on nine radio stations, broadcasting in local languages, and engaged listeners in 134 districts through 34 talk shows and four poll questions.

Key findings include:

63% of respondents cited unsafe sex as the primary cause of teen pregnancy.
Shame is the leading barrier to school re-entry for teen mothers.
Social support and acceptance are key to reintegration.
The public remains largely aligned with abstinence-only messaging, despite evidence of its ineffectiveness.

2. Partners and Scope

Lead Implementer:

TRAC FM International

Core Civil Society Partners:

Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU): Focused on youth and SRHR awareness; contributed poll content, talk show guests, and digital outreach.
Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET): Contributed to data interpretation and advocacy strategy.

Scope:

9 Radio Stations
134 Districts
44,200 total poll responses
26% female and 74% male participation

3. Objectives and Impact

Objectives:

Investigate and clarify public perceptions around the causes of teenage pregnancy.
Promote open, data-informed dialogue on sex education and school re-entry policies.
Influence policy shifts and public narratives through community-driven data and discussion.

Impact Highlights:

Policy Disconnect Exposed: The government’s strategy emphasizes child marriage and rape, while the public identifies unsafe sex as the main cause.
Behavior Change: Over 50% of those interviewed reported discussing the campaign’s issues or changing behavior as a result.
Education Re-entry: 67% of respondents said support from teachers and parents is key for teen moms to return to school.
Advocacy Use: Findings feed into policy briefs, shared through social media, and targeted data analysis sessions with decision-makers.

The campaign succeeded in elevating community voices into the policy space and challenged prevailing assumptions with citizen-generated evidence.