Akatsi South records 177 teenage pregnancies in six months

The Akatsi South Municipality in Ghana reported a significant increase in teenage pregnancies, with 177 cases registered between January and June 2026. This rate of 13.2% of all pregnancies exceeds the national target of below 11.5%. The municipality's health director, Mrs. Justine Sefakor Alornyo, emphasized that teenage pregnancy is a multifaceted issue, encompassing health, social, educational, and child protection concerns.

She highlighted the particular worry surrounding pregnancies among girls aged 10 to 14 years, calling for a comprehensive response involving multiple sectors such as the Municipal Assembly, Ghana Education Service, Department of Social Welfare, Ghana Police Service, traditional authorities, and religious leaders. Alornyo stressed the need for community-based antenatal care mobilization and urged stronger collaboration to address the contributing factors and improve maternal and adolescent health outcomes.

Brief written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.