Staring at the ceiling, Deborah, not her real name, struggles to hold back her tears as she recounts the emotional turmoil she faced two years ago when she became a teenage mother.
At just 17, Deborah, now 20, found herself navigating an unplanned pregnancy—a journey she describes as a mix of naïveté, desperation, and isolation.
Losing both her parents at a young age left her without guidance or support, particularly regarding sexual and reproductive health.
“I never had a conversation about sex or how to manage my body,” Deborah laments. “When I lost my parents, I was living with my brother’s wife. I never heard anything about how to take care of myself. Even my first menstrual cycle was traumatic; I didn’t know what to do. A trusted friend helped me understand, but by then it was too late.”
Her friend, who later became pregnant, subtly encouraged Deborah to find a boy who could provide for her. “Of course, I had one, but I wasn’t lucky,” she recalls. “Within three months, I realized I hadn’t gotten my period.” When Deborah finally confided in her brother’s wife, she received the devastating news: she was pregnant.
The boy who fathered the child was unsupportive, leading Deborah to drop out of school. “I was so traumatized that I saw death as the best option,” she says, tears streaming down her face. “I often wondered how I could carry such a burden. My baby is now three years old.”
Reflecting on her experience, Deborah wishes she had received proper education about sexual health. “If I had known then what I know now, things would have been different. Many girls in rural communities are still lacking this knowledge,” she says, emphasizing the urgent need for sexual and reproductive health education.
A Shared Struggle
Cynthia, not her real name, also from Nabdam District in the Upper East Region, faced a similar fate when she became pregnant at 19. “I blame my teenage pregnancy on my parents’ failure to educate me about sexual reproductive health,” she shares, her voice heavy with regret. “Growing up, my mother never sat me down to talk about how to handle myself.”
Cynthia’s tears reflect the pain of her past, especially when she recalls her struggles during pregnancy.
“My parents were peasant farmers, and we barely had enough to feed ourselves,” she remembers. “The boy who got me pregnant wasn’t as supportive as he promised. Even getting money for healthcare was a challenge.”
Now 24, Cynthia hopes to prevent other girls from experiencing her hardships. “The past is the past, and I don’t want my fellow girls to go through what I did. If I had known about sexual health, this mistake wouldn’t have happened. It really cost me,” she asserts. Cynthia’s daughter is now six years old, and she is determined to break the cycle of ignorance.
Flavia, not her real name, another young mother who endured a similar ordeal, appeals for urgent and practical measures to combat teenage pregnancy in the Upper East Region.
With a two-year-old son to care for, she calls for immediate action to educate both girls and boys. “We need real action to educate girls and boys alike,” she pleads. “It’s the only way to stop this cycle.”
A Call for Action
Deborah, Flavia, and Cynthia’s stories are not isolated incidents; they reflect a broader crisis of teenage pregnancy in Ghana and worldwide.
Globally, in 2022, an estimated 13 percent of adolescent girls and young women gave birth before the age of 18, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Similarly, the World Health Organisation estimated that 21 million girls aged 15 to 19 in developing countries become pregnant, and approximately 12 million of them give birth.
Nationally, the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey Summary Report by the Ghana Health Service estimated that 15 percent of young women aged 15 to 19 have been pregnant, and 11 percent have given birth.
Locally, the Ghana Health Service reported 1,635 teenage pregnancies in the Upper East Region during the first quarter of 2021. By the first quarter of 2023, the region recorded 1,252 teenage pregnancies, representing 13% of all pregnancies. Bawku West, Talensi, and Bolgatanga were among the districts with the highest rates.
The issue of teenage pregnancy is worrying, hampering the growth and development of young girls, and deepening the gender gap, thereby threatening the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Asaa-Bia Emelda, a member of the Deeper Life Church, stressed the need for church leaders to educate young congregants about topics like menstrual hygiene and sexual reproductive health.
“Parents often overlook this aspect of their children’s development, leaving them to learn unhealthy practices elsewhere. If the church can take up this role, it will not only help the girl child but also empower them to openly discuss the challenges they face,” she said.
Anaba Victor, a member of the Assemblies of God Church in Bolgatanga, echoed Emelda’s sentiments, emphasizing that youth development should extend beyond obedience to God and parents. He believes that understanding personal growth, including reproductive health education, is vital for adolescents.
Mohammed Quaye, of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Society in Bolgatanga, also expressed the need to develop manuals for reproductive health advocacy at various worship centres. He suggested that these manuals align with moral teachings of Islam or other faith-based doctrines.
In an interview, Miss Dora Kulariba, the Upper East Regional Adolescent Health Focal Person, emphasized that teenage pregnancy remains a critical issue driven by a lack of sexual and reproductive health education. She called for more concerted efforts to combat this growing trend.
Mary Azika, a nurse at the Bolgatanga Municipal Health Directorate, noted that teenage mothers face numerous health risks, including complications during childbirth and long-term socio-economic disadvantages. “We must address this issue head-on,” she urged.
Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana Intervention
One of the organizations leading the efforts to tackle teenage pregnancy, particularly in the Upper East Region, is the Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana (YHFG). The youth-centred organization focuses on providing comprehensive sexual education, access to reproductive health services, and life skills training for adolescents.
As part of its strategy to address teenage pregnancy, YHFG has launched a new initiative that aims to improve menstrual hygiene management and reduce unwanted pregnancies through a tailored manual for adolescents aged 10 to 19.
Dominic Anarigide, a Project Officer at YHFG, believes involving religious institutions is crucial. “In rural areas, communities often look to religious leaders for guidance on moral issues,” he explains. “We need to leverage that influence to educate young people about reproductive health.”
“We’ve conducted training for religious leaders to help them address reproductive health topics within their communities,” Anarigide shares.
Deborah, Cynthia, and Flavia, now advocates in their own right, have joined 43 other young mothers in a remedial class program organized by YHFG, designed to help them rebuild their disrupted educational journeys.
With organizations like YHFG stepping up to address the crisis, there is a glimmer of hope for change in the Upper East Region.
“I want my son to have a better future,” Deborah says, her tears drying as she speaks with determination. “I hope for a day when no girl will have to go through the pain I endured.”
The fight against teenage pregnancy continues, driven by the voices of those who have lived it and the commitment of organizations striving for change.
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