The Yendi Municipal Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service in the northern region says it is deeply worried about the upsurge of teenage pregnancies in the area.
The directorate says though the problem may not be peculiar to the Yendi municipality, cultural beliefs, religion and peoples lack of interest in practising family planning are largely responsible for the increase in teenage pregnancies.
The directorate says it is worried that girls between the ages of 11,12, 13 years and above are engaged in unprotected sex. These teenagers, the health directorate said, in most cases opt for abortion.
The Municipal Disease Control and Surveillance Officer, Awuni Mbabila, who disclosed this to Zaa News at Yendi, said cultural factors especially within the Yendi domain play a key role because children hide what they do.
Mr. Mbabila, who could not readily provide statistics, said based on the 2015 annual report, Yendi was picking up and described the situation as alarming.
According to him, family planning acceptance in the northern region is still low at 20% compared to other regions where acceptance levels are about 70%.
Mr. Mbabila said the health directorate is aware of the high rate of teenage pregnancy and has put in place measures to curtail the problem.
School Health Education Program (SHEP) adolescent clubs in the various schools to sensitize the students on the dangers involved are being established among other initiatives to address the problem.
A resident who corroborated with the health official mentioned four areas in the Yendi township where the practice was common. The areas include Balogu, Nayili Fong, Kumla Fong and Kugu and appeal to opinion leaders to step in and stop it.
