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During a free health and education exercise in Tema Community 12 aimed at improving residents’ well-being, Naana Egyiriba Idun-Acquah, the Adolescent Focal Person at Tema General Hospital, disclosed that the facility has recorded high cases of teenage pregnancies. She attributed this to the lack of sex education from parents to their adolescent children.
Idun-Acquah emphasized the need for parents to build a strong bond with their children where sex education can be easily discussed. This, she believes, will help teenagers fight the urge to experiment with sex as pregnancy can result from just one act.
She further explained that teenage pregnancy has many health consequences, including pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure, and excessive bleeding after birth, which can result in death. As the body requires a lot of blood during pregnancy, it puts a strain on the adolescent body, which may not be mature enough to cater to such activities, leading to several health issues, emotional distress, social stigma, and economic problems.
Idun-Acquah also highlighted that some parents punish their pregnant daughters by making them do more chores and refusing to provide them with money for feeding. She appealed to parents to show compassion and support for expectant mothers until they deliver as nutrition and rest are critical to their survival.
The Adolescent Focal Person advised parents to take advantage of free sex education provided by Tema General Hospital to educate their children on safe sex practices. It is crucial to empower adolescents with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their reproductive health to reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancies and its associated consequences.
