TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... i

COPYRIGHT ................................................................................................................... ii

APPROVAL .................................................................................................................... iii

AUTHORIZATION ....................................................................................................... iv

DEDICATION ................................................................................................................. v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.............................................................................................. vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ vii

LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................ xiii

DEFINITION OF TERMS .......................................................................................... xiv

CHAPTER ONE .............................................................................................................. 1

1.0. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1

1.1. Background .............................................................................................................. 1

1.2. Problem statement ............................................................................................... 5

1.3. Purpose of study ................................................................................................... 7

1.4. Specific objectives ................................................................................................ 7

1.5. Research questions ............................................................................................... 7

1.6. Justifications of the study .................................................................................... 8

CHAPTER   TWO ............................................................................................................. 9

LITERATURE   REVIEW ................................................................................................ 9

2.1. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 9

2.2. Accessing the knowledge of teenagers towards unsafe abortions. ................... 9

2.3. Determining teenager’s attitudes towards unsafe abortions. ......................... 11

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2.4. Identifying the practices which influence teenagers to practice unsafe abortions ......................................................................................................................... 13

CHAPTER THREE ....................................................................................................... 17

3.0. METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................. 17

3.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 17

3.2. Study design and rationale ................................................................................ 17

3.3. Study setting and rationale ............................................................................... 18

3.4. Study population. ....................................................................................... 18

3.4.1. Sample size determination ......................................................................... 18

3.4.2. Sampling procedure ................................................................................... 19

3.4.3. Inclusion criteria ........................................................................................ 20

3.4.4. Exclusion criteria ....................................................................................... 20

3.5. Definition of variables. ............................................................................... 20

3.5.1. The dependent valuable includes .............................................................. 20

3.5.2. Independent variable in ............................................................................. 20

3.6. Research instruments ........................................................................................ 20

3.7. Data collection procedures ................................................................................ 21

3.7.1. Data management ...................................................................................... 22

3.7.2. Data analysis ............................................................................................... 22

3.8. Ethical considerations ........................................................................................ 22

3.9. Limitations of the study ..................................................................................... 23

3.9.1. There was a problem of language barrier.................................................... 23

3.10. Areas for further research ............................................................................ 23

CHAPTER FOUR ........................................................................................................... 25

4.0. Data presentation and analysis .............................................................................. 25

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4.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 25

4.2. Bio demographic profile ......................................................................................... 25

4.3. Knowledge of teenagers about unsafe abortions amongst those that attended gynecological ward of Kampala International University Teaching Hospital. ........ 26

4.4. The teenagers’ attitude towards unsafe abortions ............................................... 29

4.5. The practices influencing teenagers to practice unsafe abortions ...................... 33

CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................... 35

DISCUSSION OF STUDY FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION AND IMPLICATION TO NURSING PRACTICE .......... 35

5.1. Discussion of study findings ................................................................................... 35

5.1.1. Demographic information ................................................................................... 35

5.1.2.  Knowledge of teenagers about unsafe abortions amongst those that attended the gynecological ward of KIUTH ................................................................................ 38

5.1.3 The attitude of teenagers about unsafe abortions .............................................. 40

5.1.4 The practices influencing teenagers to practice unsafe abortions .................... 43

5.2. conclusion ................................................................................................................ 44

5.3. Recommendation .................................................................................................... 45

5.4. Implication to nursing practice ............................................................................. 46

5.5 Areas for further research. ..................................................................................... 46

REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 48

APPENDIX I .................................................................................................................. 52

CONSENT FORM. ........................................................................................................ 52

Respondent ..................................................................................................................... 52

Researcher ...................................................................................................................... 52

APPENDIX II: ............................................................................................................... 53

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QUESTIONNAIRE........................................................................................................ 53

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 53

SECTION A ..................................................................................................................... 53

SECTION B ..................................................................................................................... 54

SECTION C ..................................................................................................................... 55

SECTION D ..................................................................................................................... 57

APPENDIX III ............................................................................................................... 58

INTODUCTORY LETTER .......................................................................................... 58

APPENDIX IV ............................................................................................................... 59

MAP OF UGANDA SHOWING LOCATION OF BUSHENYI DISTRICT ........... 58

APPENDIX V ................................................................................................................. 60

THE MAP OF BUSHENYI DISTRICT INDICATING ISHAKA MUNICIPALITY WHERE KIUTH IS LOCATED .................................................................................. 60

ABSTRACT.

Worldwide, unsafe abortion remains a major global concern as complications resulting from unsafe abortion procedures account for about 47,000 maternal deaths per year. To assess the factors influencing teenagers to practice unsafe abortions, a study which was done in the gynecological ward of Kampala International University Teaching Hospital, a descriptive cross-sectional study design involving the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection was used. Simple random sampling method was used to recruit 49 participants for the interview.  The knowledge about unsafe abortions among the teenagers was not good basing on their definitions of safe sex as 43% of them defined it as using family planning and you don’t get pregnant, 43% also defined it as having sex and you don’t get pregnant and 14% defined it as having sex and you produce when you want. Their definitions were totally different from the true definition of safe sex which is simply taking steps to protect yourself and your partner from sexually transmitted diseases.  The attitudes towards unsafe abortions among teenagers were also negative as most of them 65.3% stated that their religious beliefs didn’t have any impact on their access to safe abortion care services and only 34.7%, also 67% believed that unsafe abortion couldn’t be stopped while only 33% believed that it could be stopped. The practices influencing teenagers to practice unsafe abortions were also not good as most of them were initiated into sex at an early age.  In order to improve on the teenagers’ knowledge, attitude and practice regarding unsafe abortions, there is need for comprehensive sexuality and reproductive health education focusing on the dangers of early pregnancies and unsafe abortions.