MOAC0101 | DEPRESSION, ASSOCIATED FACTORS, AND COPING MECHANISMS AMONG TEENAGE MOTHERS IN A HIGH HIV-BURDEN URBAN MUNICIPALITY IN UGANDA

Joselyn Nakyeyune | Afya Na Haki Institute, Uganda

Depression among adolescent mothers remains a significant yet underexplored public health issue, particularly in contexts with a high burden of HIV. Teenage mothers face intersecting vulnerabilities, including limited access to reproductive health services, HIV-related stigma, and socio-economic marginalization, which increase their risk of poor mental health outcomes. This study examined the prevalence of depression, its contributing factors, and coping strategies among teenage mothers in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District—an urban region in Uganda experiencing an increasing HIV prevalence among young women. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used. Quantitative data were collected from 150 teenage mothers using a structured questionnaire that included the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), while qualitative insights were gathered through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with healthcare providers, local leaders, and adolescent health advocates. Findings revealed that 79% of participants exhibited depressive symptoms, with 27% meeting criteria for major depressive disorders. Other levels included moderate (17%), borderline clinical (20%), and mild mood disturbances (15%). HIV-related stigma, fear of vertical transmission, limited youth-friendly services, and disrupted social support systems were prominent contributing factors. Although the participants employed various coping mechanisms—both traditional (e.g., churches, counselors) and non-traditional (e.g., peer traditional and social media engagements)—non-traditional mechanisms were highlighted as a preference since they were viewed as more accessible and available. Notably, the majority of the coping mechanisms that the teenage mother opted for did not align with the Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability, and Quality (AAAQ) framework for mental health care, thereby limiting their effectiveness. This study, therefore, underscores the urgent need for integrated, adolescent-centered mental health and HIV services and calls for multisectoral collaboration to strengthen mental health resilience among teenage mothers living in high HIV-burden settings.