Ghana recorded more than 500,000 teenage pregnancies between 2016 and 2020, according to data from the Ghana Health Service (GHS), highlighting a concerning trend in adolescent reproductive health.
Dr Erica Dickson, a clinical psychologist, disclosed this during a mental health forum organisied by the Mental Health Authority on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
She described teenage motherhood as a growing concern rooted in psychological vulnerability, social neglect, and legislative inconsistencies.
“In Ghana, it is estimated by the Ghana Health Service that 542,131 teenage pregnancies occurred between 2016 and 2020,” she said.
“Even though there seems to be a general decline in the numbers, in 2020 alone, over 100,000 young girls gave birth. It is estimated that one to two in every ten adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 has had a live birth. These statistics underscore the magnitude of the issue in Ghana,” she added.
Dr Dickson questioned the coherence of Ghana’s legal framework, which sets the age of sexual consent at 16, despite the Children’s Act and international conventions defining a child as anyone under 18.
“If we say a child is anyone under 18, and that anyone who defiles a child has committed a crime, why then is the age of sexual consent 16?” she asked.
“This legal contradiction creates a situation where teenage pregnancy and child motherhood can become more common,” she noted.
She explained that teenage motherhood refers to adolescents aged 13 to 19 who become pregnant, give birth, and take on the responsibilities of parenting, often before they are psychologically or emotionally ready.
“Just in case anyone is confused about what teenage motherhood is, this is a child raising a child,” she emphasised.
With Ghana’s adolescent birth rate at 76 per 1,000, far above the global average of 49 per 1,000, Dr. Dickson stressed that rural and economically disadvantaged areas bear the brunt of the issue. Poverty, she said, remains one of the leading drivers of teenage pregnancies.
She called for a thoughtful review of the age of consent law, improved sexual and reproductive health education, and expanded mental health services for adolescents.
The public lecture, held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, as part of Purple Month, focused on the theme “Mental Health Needs of the Teenage Mother.”
The event aimed to raise awareness of the unique mental health challenges faced by teenage mothers, reduce the stigma surrounding teenage pregnancy, and promote supportive interventions.
Key objectives included addressing issues such as postpartum depression, anxiety, and stress; highlighting coping strategies and the role of strong support systems; and equipping healthcare providers with the skills to identify psychological distress early.
The lecture also sought to empower young mothers to recognise early warning signs of mental health problems and to balance motherhood with education and personal growth.
Target groups included healthcare professionals, teenage mothers, parents, teachers, and community leaders.
JKB/MA
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