Abstract summary 

We explored the association between pregnancy-related stigma and intimate partner violence (IPV) with depression and anxiety among adolescents in Uganda.We interviewed a convenience sample of 100 adolescents (>18 years) who were pregnant (>3 months) or recently gave birth (<3 months) at Tororo District Hospital, Uganda. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were evaluated using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-25), physical and sexual IPV were assessed using the WHO violence against women instrument, and pregnancy-related stigma was captured with a questionnaire. Regression models were used to evaluate associations of pregnancy stigma and IPV with depression and anxiety.Mean age was 18 years, 84% were primiparous, 66% were married and 57% had only primary school-level education. About 48% women had clinically meaningful distress levels; 45% reported sexual IPV, 32% physical IPV, and 86% reported experiencing pregnancy-related stigma. Adjusted models showed that higher levels of depression and anxiety were associated with higher report of pregnancy-related stigma (β = .27, p = .03), physical IPV, (β = -.24, p < .01), or sexual IPV (β = -.19, p = .05), compared to those who did not. Unemployment (β = -.24, p = .01) and lower educational level (β = -.21, p = .05) were also independent predictors of depression and anxiety.Findings suggest that IPV is common among adolescents in Uganda, as is pregnancy-related stigma, and both are independent predictors of depression and anxiety. The implications of these findings and the need for clinical interventions for IPV among adolescents are discussed.

Authors & Co-authors:  Asiimwe Ronald R Tseng Chi-Fang CF Murray Sarah M SM Ojuka Julius C JC Arima Ethan G EG Familiar-Lopez Itziar I

Study Outcome 

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