Factsheet: Sexual reproductive health and rights at a glance – Uganda
Uganda still faces some societal, governance, and physical barriers in the accomplishment and protection of sexual and reproductive health and Rights. Achieving sexual and reproductive health and rights, encompassing the ability to decide when and whether to have children, is essential for the health and well-being of all women. Yet recent data indicate serious gaps in sexual and reproductive health services for adolescent women in Uganda. An estimated 649,000 women aged 15–19 in Uganda is sexually active and do not want a child in the next two years. However, among this group, more than 55% have an unmet need for modern contraception, meaning that they either don’t use
contraceptive method or use a traditional method of contraception. Moreover, many adolescent women who give birth each year do not receive the vital components of maternal and new-born care. Hitherto, the barriers in governance such as restrictive policies and laws, corruption, and the inability to properly uphold laws over citizens, and societal barriers stemming from historical, religious, and traditional circumstances provide significant hindrances in assuring sexual and reproductive health rights.
