The Ghana Health Director for the Ahafo Ano South West District of the Ashanti region has bemoaned increasing rate of teenage pregnancy among young girls particularly students in the farming district.
Dr. Rubben Bedzra, has explained the problem is partly contributed by poverty and lack of proper parental care in proving basic needs of menstruating teenagers in the district.
He disclosed lack of sanitary pad has compelled some innocent young girls to trade in sex for just Gh¢20 to buy sanitary pad which they end up being impregnated.
According to him, “most of the teenagers who reported to health facilities in the district after interrogations disclosed that, they surrendered to sexual offers from men in order to get money for sanitary pads during their Menstrual period’’ Dr Rubben said on Kumasi based Otec FM.
He further explained “While the causes of teenage pregnancies in the area are many, one of the problems which runs through almost all victims was poverty, most of the teenagers who confided in us said they were forced into bed after the men provided them with sanitary pads for a period of time”.
Teenage Pregnancies
The Ghana Health Service disclosed that, pregnancy among teenagers between 10 to 14 years was on the rise in the Ahafo Ano South West District of the Ashanti Region.
According to GHS, 18 percent of the total 460 teenage pregnancies recorded in the district for the year 2022 were between the 10 to 14 year age brackets.
The situation according to GHS is destroying the future of many young girls in the area
Dr Bedzra expressed concern over the alarming rate of teenage pregnancies in the district, calling on all stakeholders to join the fight against the menace.
“I am encouraging all stakeholders in the district to see this development as a huge burden that needs urgent attention”.
“The lives of most of our young girls are being destroyed because of this very issue that is why I believe such workshops are very important “.
St Mary’s Girls Senior High School
Management of St Mary’s Girls Senior High School at Konongo in the Asante Akyem Central Municipality of the Ashanti Region, say 15 of their students are heavily pregnant.
According to the headmistress of the school this amounts to a high rate of teenage pregnancy among students particularly her students, a development she describes as a threat to girl child education.
Management of the school described the teenage pregnancy situation in the district as alarming and therefore called for stakeholders’ collective effort to check the issue.
Speaking to journalist the Headmistress of the school, Madam Alice Martha Adjei disclosed ” a recent report indicates about a total of 15 of my girls are pregnant, 4 of them are final year students being prepared for their final exams, other 10 students are second years students students. Surprisingly one of them newly admitted students for the 2023 academic year is also pregnant” she explained.
The head mistress who appears very concerned about the development thus increasing the rate of teenage pregnancy among girls of school going age encouraged parents and guardians to compliment the effort of the schools to halt the unfortunately premarital affairs among young girls he could be described as threat to their future educational potential.