THE RISE IN TEENAGE PREGNANCY IN NORTHERN GHANA

Teenage pregnancy is a situation where young girls between the ages of thirteen (13) and nineteen (19) get pregnant. Teenage pregnancy is also known as adolescent pregnancy. It is a social issue that needs to be tackled by families, communities, religious bodies, non-governmental organizations and the government.

CAUSES OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY

Teenage pregnancy is caused by any of the following:

To begin with, the lack of education on safe sex. This normally occurs where parents, teachers and religious leaders feel shy or fail to educate the adolescent girls about the effects of unsafe sex.

Secondly, broken homes are another cause of teenage pregnancy. Teenage girls are more like to get pregnant if they have limited or no guidance from parents. Many parents have busy lives that prevent them from providing the guidance and support that their young teenage need to make good decisions on issues such as sex.

Also, peer pressure is a cause of teenage pregnancy. During adolescence, teenagers often feel pressure and to make friends and fit in with their peers. Many at times, these teenagers let their friends influence their decisions to have sex even when they do not fully understand the consequences associated with the act.

EFFECTS OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY

School drop outs. Many teenagers who get pregnant are able to complete their education. Their friends may laugh at them and they feel shy of going back even if their parents can take care of the new baby.

Armed robbery. Many armed robbers were born by teenage parents. Some of the street children grow up to become armed robbers.

Dependency burden. Teenage mothers and their children put their burden on their relatives hence adding to the relatives problems.

Death. Some teenagers do not return from the hospital when they visit maternity to give birth. Meaning they some die during child delivery.

PREVENTION OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY.

Proper parenthood skills must be introduced. Parents should be responsible for their children’s upbringing. Well informed parents would help their children meet their basic needs.

Public education on sex must be broadcast on television and radio. Parents, schools, churches, mosques, and opinion leaders must help intensify sex education among teenagers. This would provide them with the needed information to resist attempt by their peers to influence them negatively.

Related posts:

Nochtans ben ik niet bedreven in coderen of zo. Ik ben vooral bezig met grafisch ontwerp. Ik werk voor VRT Creative Lab, de bende die voor de VRT en haar merken onder meer experimenteert met nieuwe…

I wake up in the morning, and I still feel as if I wasted my life supporting other people who never gave anything back in return. As if they’re presence alone was mana from the heavens.Listening to…

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are taking a break from spending Christmas with the royal family this year, but Kate Middleton and Prince William are out with the Queen this morning. The Duke and…