A 14 year old primary six girl has surprised parents and relatives by giving birth after hiding her pregnancy for nine months.
Patricia Kabugho a primary six pupil of Mahango Primary School and now staying with her elder sister in Kikonzo, Railway Ward, Central Division in Kasese Municipality, on Thursday 15th shocked her parents and neighbors after giving birth to a healthy baby boy despite her not
According to Rose Biira, an elder sister to Kabugho, narrated the ideal.
Biira says in the evening of Friday 23th, Kabugho complained of feeling unwell and she thought the young girl was just experiencing some headache and other minor body pains little knowing she was in her stages of giving birth. She added that the only relief the girl could get was lying on the floor and as the night progressed and the girl’s situation increasingly became strong, she called on some neighbors who carried her to a nearby health facility in Kikonzo.
On reaching the health facility, the young girl started complaining of stomachache and as the Nurse was attending to her, she first suspected that the girl could be experiencing a misscourage, and in just a tingle of an eye, the health worker noticed the girl was giving birth a thing that surprised everyone including the nurse.
Rose says they had no idea Kabugho was carrying a baby because she didn’t gain a single pound in weight. “She had a completely flat stomach” Rose narrates.
Speaking to our reporter, Kabugho said that she first learnt of the news of her being pregnant when she visited Kabiriti Health Center iii in Mahango sub county and since then she had never visited any health facility for antenatal services like it is supposed to be for all expectant mothers to go checkups and postnatal after birth.
While asked why she decided to keep quiet with the pregnancy, Kabugho said that she feared to tell friends and parents fearing that they could humiliate her and someone who loved school, she thought that maybe she could be asked to stop attending classes.
During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes many changes, her breasts becoming larger while her abdomen transforms into a convex form and increasing the curvature at the back.
A woman also experiences nausea and vomiting, heartburn, tiredness, skin changes and itching of which changes Kabugho did not experience.
Antenatal and postnatal care services are amongst the recommended innervations aimed at preventing maternal and newborn death worldwide. Antenatal, also ensures the safe health of both mother and infant.
As of 2020, the maternal mortality ratio in Uganda is 336 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Infant mortality is 43 deaths per 1000 live births, with 42% of the mortality occurring during the neonatal period. This might be related to a weak health system in the country.
While asked about the health risks of not going for antenatal services, the Kasese district Assistant Health Officer, Loy Sekalombi recommended that the girl be taken to hospital for further management. She says that despite the fact the girl had a normal delivery, she ought to get further examinations since she is underage.
By the time of compiling this story, the girl was still under home care and both her and Child were healthy.
It will be heart breaking for the reader to know that her husband is actually 27 years.
