Ghana records 53,415 teenage pregnancies in first seven months
Ghana has recorded more than 53,400 adolescent pregnancies in the first seven months of the year. This is according to data from the Ghana Health Service which also indicates that the cases are more prevalent among girls who are out of school. The situation is raising concerns among stakeholders who are worried that every pregnancy […]
Ghana has recorded over 53,400 teenage pregnancies in the first seven months of the year, according to data from the Ghana Health Service. The majority of these cases are among girls who are not in school, raising concerns among stakeholders who fear the impact on girls' education, health, and future. The national multistakeholder dialogue on reducing teenage pregnancy brought these issues to the forefront.
Geography plays a significant role, with the Savannah Region having the highest prevalence at nearly 26 percent, with some districts seeing rates of 230 births per 1,000 young women. In contrast, the Greater Accra region has the lowest rate at 6 percent. The Ghana Health Service's Adolescent Program Head, Sheriffa Mohammed, expressed concern over these figures and emphasized that keeping girls in school is the most effective protection.
The Programs Director at MSI Clara Nyarko highlighted that teenage pregnancy is a multifaceted issue that requires coordination, collaboration, and accountability. The Alliance for Health Rights Program Manager, Isaac Nyampong, called for a shift in misconceptions about sexual and reproductive health education to equip girls with the necessary information to protect themselves.
Stakeholders are now calling for measures to ensure that the remaining figures for the year are lower, thus preventing more young girls from being robbed of their childhood.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
