Resilience, Perceived Pregnancy - Related Stress and associated factors among Pregnant Refugee Adolescent Girls in Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement, Northwestern Uganda

Abstract

Introduction. This study examined the relationship between resilience and perceived pregnancy-related stress among pregnant adolescent refugees in the Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement in Northwestern Uganda. The primary objectives were to determine the prevalence of perceived pregnancy-related stress and to assess the association between resilience and pregnancy-related stress in this population sample.

Methodology. A cross-sectional design was used, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methods. A total of 249 participants were recruited using systematic random sampling, with the sample size calculated based on an estimated adolescent pregnancy prevalence of 21.5% among Ugandan refugees. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression to explore the associations between resilience, stress, and other variables. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically to identify key patterns and themes in the participants’ experiences. Results. Among the respondents, 77.2% (186) exhibited low resilience, and 80.5% (194) reported moderate pregnancy-related stress. There was a significant inverse correlation between resilience and perceived pregnancy-related stress (r = -0.15, p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis identified three independent predictors of increased pregnancy-related stress: lack of parental engagement in care (OR = 3.56, CI: 1.65–7.71), male partner rejection of the pregnancy (OR = 3.43, CI: 1.45–8.12), and reported feelings of shame (OR = 3.39, CI: 1.01–11.34). Conclusion. The findings indicate a significant inverse association between resilience and perceived pregnancy-related stress among pregnant adolescent refugees in Rhino Camp. Older adolescents and those who received greater parental support, which reflects higher social capital, demonstrated higher resilience. These results underscore the importance of social support and resilience as critical factors in mitigating pregnancy-related stress among adolescent refugees.

Key Words: Adolescent pregnancy; Resilience; Pregnancy-related stress; Refugees Social support; Uganda