Teenage pregnancy has become a headache for the government of Ghana. It is one of the major issues the country is facing at present. The programs attempting to improve maternal care are facing local obstacles as well as minimal government involvement.
The main reason behind this tragedy is that almost all the girls in the territory where Ghana is situated become sexually active by the age of 15. Hence, being a mother by the age of 16 or 17 is a common sight. Some facts about the pregnancy statistics in Ghana are listed below;
The main reason behind this tragedy is that almost all the girls in the territory where Ghana is situated become sexually active by the age of 15. Hence, being a mother by the age of 16 or 17 is a common sight. Some facts about the pregnancy statistics in Ghana are listed below;
- 8 out of 15 girls were pregnant from the sexual relationship from the same age group i.e. Teenagers. Hardly any adult male was involved in the pregnancies, if so then they were generally between 20 and 22 years old.
- The strange fact is that hardly any cases of rape are reported in these incidents.
- Implications regarding teenage pregnancy are always discussed and steps to eradicate the problem are suggested, however they have as yet failed to work successfully.
- Statistics suggest 8 out of 15 girls are aware of birth control, however only one or two of them implemented it.
- No safety precautions are taken in almost all cases; the availability of condoms and anti-pregnancy pills are either scarce or too costly for a teenager to afford.
- In some cases, the pregnant girls received help from the family of the father, however in many instances, this is discontinued soon after the baby is born.
- Approximately 40% of teenage pregnancies result in an unsafe abortion, in turn leading to medical complications and in some cases fatalities.
- Only two of 15 males have a secure job.
- Ghana is known for its high rate of maternal deaths. The central part of the country has a high teenage pregnancy rate. Various Commissions have taken steps to overcome such problems, but with mixed results (often poor).
