The 2015 Annual Report on health has revealed that the Yendi Municipality in the Northern Region has recorded the highest cases of teenage pregnancy.
Children of school going age between 11 and 12 years are the most affected.
The Yendi Municipal Disease Control and Surveillance Officer, Awuni Mbabila disclosed this to Citi News on the sidelines at a Town Hall meeting organized by the Yendi Municipal Assembly.
He attributed the unfortunate development to poverty and low acceptability of family planning.
Awuni Mbabila said, “You know in the Northern Region family planning acceptability is low and we are struggling to get it back to 20 percent which other regions have recorded so far as 70 percent.”
“The religion has a role to play in that where people who come in for family planning as going behind their husbands,” he added.
Awuni Mbabila said the Municipal health directorate has put in place pragmatic measures to curb the menace.
“In line with the increase in teenage pregnancy and other related health problems we are putting in place measures to curb the menace and one of such measures is engaging students through adolescent clubs established in basic schools.”
“Community durbars are periodically held to educate the public on the dangers associated with teenage pregnancy,” he added.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana