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 explained that 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.
Dr. Rubben Bedzra in an interview with Light FM said 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.
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.
