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'''OVERVIEW''' | '''OVERVIEW''' | ||
In Uganda, contraception can be purchased without a prescription. The rate of contraceptive use is not very high, though the rates have increased in the last two decades. If you want emergency contraception (the morning after pill), you typically don't need a prescription to purchase it in pharmacies (though, technically-speaking, it may be legally required). You can also use regular oral contraceptives (birth control pills) as replacement emergency contraception. We explain how in the "Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)" section. You can get an HIV and STI test at health care centers throughout the city. There are some health organizations and NGOs that help people dealing with STIs, especially HIV. You can also access PEP and PrEP in Uganda (see "Medications & Vaccines" section for details). There is a national HPV vaccination program as well. Menstruation is often a taboo and socially awkward topic for women, and in poorer and rural parts of the country, menstrual products are difficult to access. There are many health organizations that aim to provide menstrual products and educate women about menstruation, and there has been an exciting effort to introduce more women to menstrual cups. Abortion is illegal, except for when the woman's life is endangered by the pregnancy and, as it's generally interpreted, when the woman's mental or physical health is endangered by the pregnancy. However, due to the restrictive and unclear nature of Ugandan abortion laws, most women seek abortions from clandestine providers. Many women experience complications with these abortions, so it is recommended to exercise extreme caution. | In Uganda, contraception can be purchased without a prescription. The rate of contraceptive use is not very high, though the rates have increased in the last two decades.<ref>https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0219963</ref> If you want emergency contraception (the morning after pill), you typically don't need a prescription to purchase it in pharmacies (though, technically-speaking, it may be legally required). You can also use regular oral contraceptives (birth control pills) as replacement emergency contraception. We explain how in the "Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)" section. You can get an HIV and STI test at health care centers throughout the city. There are some health organizations and NGOs that help people dealing with STIs, especially HIV. You can also access PEP and PrEP in Uganda (see "Medications & Vaccines" section for details). There is a national HPV vaccination program as well. Menstruation is often a taboo and socially awkward topic for women, and in poorer and rural parts of the country, menstrual products are difficult to access. There are many health organizations that aim to provide menstrual products and educate women about menstruation, and there has been an exciting effort to introduce more women to menstrual cups. Abortion is illegal, except for when the woman's life is endangered by the pregnancy and, as it's generally interpreted, when the woman's mental or physical health is endangered by the pregnancy. However, due to the restrictive and unclear nature of Ugandan abortion laws, most women seek abortions from clandestine providers. Many women experience complications with these abortions, so it is recommended to exercise extreme caution. | ||
==Contraception (Birth Control)== | ==Contraception (Birth Control)== | ||
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In Uganda, you can purchase | In Uganda, you can purchase condoms and oral contraceptives (birth control pills) without a prescription. It is estimated that 30% of married Ugandan women and 52% of sexually active unmarried Ugandan women use some form modern contraception.<ref>[http://mobile.businessinsider.com/how-birth-control-is-changing-lives-in-uganda-2016-8 How birth control changed everything for a young mother in Uganda]</ref> For married women, the most common contraceptive method were injectables (14-16%), implants (3.5%), male sterilization (2.3%) and condoms (2%).<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref> For unmarried women, the most popular methods were condoms (19%) and injectables (18%).<ref>[http://mobile.businessinsider.com/how-birth-control-is-changing-lives-in-uganda-2016-8 How birth control changed everything for a young mother in Uganda]</ref> | ||
Ugandan women typically know about at least one contraceptive method, yet there isn't widespread contraceptive use. According to a 2015 report, 33.4% of Ugandan women (in marriages or in unions) have unmet family planning needs. In Uganda, the median age for first time mothers is 18.9 years old, and 18% of Ugandan teens have already had a child. This can be partially attributed to lack of access to contraceptives, especially in rural areas, and lack of information about family planning services. There is also some male prejudice against birth control, which is sometimes falsely claimed to cause cancer, cause infertility or promote promiscuity.<ref>[http://mobile.businessinsider.com/how-birth-control-is-changing-lives-in-uganda-2016-8 How birth control changed everything for a young mother in Uganda]</ref> | Ugandan women typically know about at least one contraceptive method, yet there isn't widespread contraceptive use. According to a 2015 report, 33.4% of Ugandan women (in marriages or in unions) have unmet family planning needs. In Uganda, the median age for first time mothers is 18.9 years old, and 18% of Ugandan teens have already had a child. This can be partially attributed to lack of access to contraceptives, especially in rural areas, and lack of information about family planning services. There is also some male prejudice against birth control, which is sometimes falsely claimed to cause cancer, cause infertility or promote promiscuity.<ref>[http://mobile.businessinsider.com/how-birth-control-is-changing-lives-in-uganda-2016-8 How birth control changed everything for a young mother in Uganda]</ref> | ||
In March 2019, a study published by the Guttmacher Institute found that half of all pregnancies in Uganda were unintended, and that there were major gaps in sexual and reproductive health care access for adolescent women. You can read the study [https://www.guttmacher.org/news-release/2019/uganda-sexual-and-reproductive-health-services-and-information-fall-short here]. | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
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* '''If you can't get a prescription for emergency contraception, it´s worth a try buying it at the pharmacy. It should be possible to get it though in many pharmacies. But if you cannot access it, you can use regular birth control pills as EC.''' You can do this with progestin-only or combined progestin-estrogen pills. For progestin-only pills, you can take Ovrette (take 40 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex). You can also take Microval (take 50 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex). For combined progestin-estrogen pills, remember to only take the first 21 pills in 28-day packs. You can take Neogynon (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). You can also take Lo-Femenal or Microgynon-30 (take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later).<ref>[http://ec.princeton.edu/worldwide/ Princeton EC Website]</ref> | * '''If you can't get a prescription for emergency contraception, it´s worth a try buying it at the pharmacy. It should be possible to get it though in many pharmacies. But if you cannot access it, you can use regular birth control pills as EC.''' You can do this with progestin-only or combined progestin-estrogen pills. For progestin-only pills, you can take Ovrette (take 40 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex). You can also take Microval (take 50 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex). For combined progestin-estrogen pills, remember to only take the first 21 pills in 28-day packs. You can take Neogynon (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). You can also take Lo-Femenal or Microgynon-30 (take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later).<ref>[http://ec.princeton.edu/worldwide/ Princeton EC Website]</ref> | ||
'''Warning:''' You should visit a pharmacy you trust. Some pharmacies (that are not vouched for) may sell fake pills. Some imported labels from Europe or the US provide a scratching field on the packing box that - when | '''Warning:''' You should visit a pharmacy you trust. Some pharmacies (that are not vouched for) may sell fake pills. Some imported labels from Europe or the US provide a scratching field on the packing box that - when scratched with a coin- shows off a label. If the packing is intact you can be sure it contains the component you were asking for. | ||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
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* [http://mariestopes.or.ug/services/ Marie Stopes Uganda]: "We provide antenatal and postnatal care through our network of centres. MSU also socially markets Misoclear, our brand of Misoprostol used to prevent post-partum hemorrhage." Phone: +256 393 263 318/ 0414510337. Email: info@mariestopes.or.ug | * [http://mariestopes.or.ug/services/ Marie Stopes Uganda]: "We provide antenatal and postnatal care through our network of centres. MSU also socially markets Misoclear, our brand of Misoprostol used to prevent post-partum hemorrhage." Phone: +256 393 263 318/ 0414510337. Email: info@mariestopes.or.ug | ||
* [http://www.ntihc.org/service-delivery/antenantal-care/new-born-mothers-club/ New Born Mothers Club @ Naguru Teenage Information & Health Centre]: "Together with Uganda health marketing group, NTIHC established a New-born Mothers Club. The purpose of the club is to encourage healthy | * [http://www.ntihc.org/service-delivery/antenantal-care/new-born-mothers-club/ New Born Mothers Club @ Naguru Teenage Information & Health Centre]: "Together with Uganda health marketing group, NTIHC established a New-born Mothers Club. The purpose of the club is to encourage healthy behaviors and provide a platform for expectant mothers to access vital information on new born care and safe motherhood. Since the launch of the club a total of 506 young mothers have been registered." | ||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||