The Journalists for Reproductive Health-Ghana (JfRH Ghana), a network of journalists championing sexual and reproductive health issues in the country have bemoaned the ever increasing of teenage pregnancy in the Brong-Ahafo region.
According to figures from the Brong-Ahafo Regional Health Directorate, pregnancy among girls aged between 15 and 19 jumped from 6214 in 2013 to 11057 in 2014, while 525 girls between the ages of 10 to 14 got pregnant in 2014 as against 186 in 2013.
In a statement issued in Sunyani, the JfRH-Ghana again expressed concern over high cases of abortion in the Volta region.
Reports from Volta region also indicate that abortion cases in the region increased from 3,702 in 2013 to 4,455 in 2014.
The Acting Coordinator of the JfRH-Ghana, Michael Boating who signed the statement expressed worry about the situation and called for support from all stakeholders to help find lasting solution to the problem.
He stressed the need to help build self-esteem of the adolescents so that they will want to take good care of themselves and stand up for themselves when necessary.
“We can do that by giving them credit for their talents and accomplishments and by avoiding unnecessary criticism and punishment. Listening to them about their goals for the future will help build their self-esteem.”
Mr. Boating further underscored the need to help teens to make good decisions about their relationships and sex, adding that “we need to be as loving as possible when we learn that our daughters or sons are having sex”.
Parents, he said should let their teens know that sex, especially unprotected sex can have serious, negative consequences such as unintended pregnancy.
He said the network will embark on massive awareness creation among the adolescent to provide them with information on reproductive health and called for support from UNFPA, UNICEF, DFID and Futures Group.
The Journalists for Reproductive Health Ghana was formed last year by Global Media Foundation with support from Safe Abortion Action Fund under its project: Advocating for Young People Access to Safe Abortion and Contraceptive Services among Young People in Brong-Ahafo
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