A survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service across the country has revealed that, 1 in every 10 adolescent girls aged between 15 to 19 years, began having sex before their 15th birthday, unlike boys who grow older before having their first sex.
Although many young adolescent boys and girls have had some sensitization by their parents and guardians on the health and social implications of early sexual intercourse, the negative behavior amongst young girls between the ages of 10 and 14 years are highly practiced in the Upper East Region as compared to other regions.
In an interview, Peter Takyi Peprah, Project Coordinator, explained that girls who are from the poor backgrounds usually turned to have sex before age 15 with men who are ten or more years older than them.
“One in every 10 adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 years who had sex before the last 12 months of our survey reported to have had sex with a man who was ten or more years older than her. The victims are usually girls without education or pre-primary education residing in the rural areas and from the poorest households.” He explained.
Mr. Peprah noted that, the number of young girls who had their first sex before their 15th birthday are reported to be higher in the Upper East Region with percentage index of 13 percent as compared to the Greater Accra Region with the lowest index of 5 percent.
“…though Northern and Volta Region have recorded the highest regional figures of 17 percent of adolescent girls age 15 to 19 who had sex before reaching 15 years, Upper East Region placed second with percentage figure of 13 as compared to Greater Accra Region with the lowest percentage figure of 5.” He added.
Mr. Peprah however encouraged the public especially parents to always pay attention to the national population’s sexual behavior pattern as that will help them monitor and counsel both their adolescent boys and girls on the dangers associated with premature sexual intercourse.
Source: A1radioonline.com | Moses Apiah | Ghana
