The Olutindo project addresses teenage pregnancy in Mukono District, Uganda, through a strategic communication intervention. Running from November 2023 to May 2024, the project had two main objectives: (i) Understanding teenage girls’ perceptions and (ii) identifying factors contributing to high pregnancy rates. The team began with stakeholder mapping to involve key community groups, followed by baseline data collection through surveys, focus group discussions, and interviews. Ethical approval was obtained from UCU REC and UNCST. Partnerships with local stakeholders were secured, and data collection was conducted in two locations, reaching 264 teenage girls and 54 parents. Challenges included delays in ethical approvals and difficulty accessing out-of-school girls, which required collaboration with local leaders. Despite these setbacks, baseline data collection was completed successfully. The team is now analysing the data to understand the root causes of teenage pregnancy and will use the findings to develop targeted communication strategies. These findings will also be shared with stakeholders to ensure transparency and community involvement.
Prof. James Kiwanuka-Tondo – PI
Dr. Jeremy Waiswa – Co-PI