According to Rita Adjoa Ansong, the Deputy Director of Nursing Services (Public Health) at the Bono Regional Directorate of Health, the Bono Region reported a total of 14,877 teenage pregnancies from 2021 to 2024. Additionally, there were 1,188 abortion cases during the same timeframe, involving girls aged 15 to 19.
Miss Ansong shared this information at a stakeholders’ meeting in Sunyani, which was part of the African Vaccination Week (AVW) and Child Health Promotion Week (CHPW) activities organized by the Bono Regional Directorate of Health.
She provided a detailed breakdown of the statistics, indicating that in 2021, there were 3,999 pregnancies and 388 abortions; in 2022, 4,058 pregnancies and 351 abortions; in 2023, 3,492 pregnancies and 217 abortions; and in 2024, 3,328 pregnancies and 282 abortions.
Miss Ansong expressed concern over the situation and urged stakeholders to enhance Family Planning (FP) coverage for sexually active teenage girls in the region to mitigate teenage pregnancies.
She emphasized that FP empowers girls to make informed choices regarding their sexual and reproductive health, enabling them to pursue their education.
Furthermore, she highlighted myths, lack of community support, and outdated cultural and religious beliefs as significant obstacles hindering girls and women from accessing various FP methods.
In 2024, the regional FP service coverage reached 39.58 percent of the target demographic—women and girls of reproductive age—an increase from 36.45 percent in 2023.
The acceptor rate for 2024 showed a slight rise of 0.08 percent compared to the previous year, which she attributed to collaborative efforts with partners, a steady supply of FP commodities, and the re-registration of users of long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods.
Ms. Ansong emphasized that the distribution of free products by organizations such as Marie Stopes, DKT, and the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) has played a crucial role in enhancing acceptor rates.
She highlighted that family planning empowers women and girls to make informed decisions regarding their futures, resulting in healthier pregnancies and a decrease in maternal mortality.
Consequently, she called upon stakeholders and the media to intensify efforts in raising awareness and addressing existing obstacles.
Earlier, Dr. Prince Quarshie, the Deputy Director of Public Health at the Bono Regional Directorate of Health, clarified that the purpose of the meeting was to inform stakeholders and the public about the significance of immunization and the comprehensive child health services available in the nation.
He further stated that the forum also acted as a venue to bolster collaboration among essential stakeholders, including government entities, development partners, community leaders, health professionals, and the media.
The African Vaccination Week (AVW), initiated in 2010 by the World Health Organization (WHO), is observed annually during the last week of April (24th to 30th) to advocate for immunization as a vital lifesaving measure.
Dr. Quarshie also mentioned that the Child Health Promotion Week (CHPW), launched by the Ministry of Health in 2004, is celebrated from May 5 to May 9 each year, focusing on nutrition, immunization, and preventive care for children under five.
