One worrying trend in my community that really saddens my heart is the alarming rate of teenage pregnancy among my own peers. This phenomenon has far-reaching consequences for the broader society, the health and wellbeing of these teenagers, not to mention the impact on their education. As an Adolescent Journalist, I feel obliged to highlight the devastating effects of this issue, which appear to be on the rise in my community, Sunyani New Town.
Teenage pregnancy refers to a pregnancy occurring in a girl between the ages of 10 and 19. It is also known as adolescent pregnancy. While some pregnancies occur in girls as young as 10, the term “teenage pregnancy” typically refers to girls in the 15-19 age range. Teenage pregnancy is a global problem, especially in developing countries, with a significant number of girls in this age group becoming pregnant annually.
It poses various risks to both the mother and the child, including maternal risks (increased risk of preeclampsia, preterm birth, and other pregnancy complications), fetal risks (premature birth and low birth weight can lead to developmental issues in the child) as well as social and economic risks (Limited educational opportunities, financial difficulties, and social stigma can affect both the mother and the child’s future).
Several girls in Sunyani Municipality aged between 13 and 19, who should be in school, are getting pregnant at the expense of their education and I strongly think that something needs to be done to secure a brighter future for these girls.
Causes
I have noticed that the following are some causes of teenage pregnancy in most parts of Sunyani, and indeed several other places.
One of the causes of teenage pregnancy is curiosity on the part of most teens. As the saying goes: “curiosity kills the cat”; teenagers tend to practice what they see. When they are exposed to pornographic materials through the media, especially social media, they get curious about it and try to practice what they have seen. Without much knowledge and education on sex, these girls get pregnant in the process. Sometimes they are impregnated by their fellow teenagers, who mostly lack the capacity to father any child.
Also, defilement and rape are among the causes of teenage pregnancies in my area. Some irresponsible men tend to defile or rape some of these teenage girls, claiming that their libidos were aroused because of the provocative way they (the teenage girls) are dressed. As frivolous and unacceptable as it is, these remain some of the main causes of teenage pregnancies in Sunyani.
Again, alcoholism and drug abuse also contribute to teenage pregnancy in Sunyani. Through peer influence, some teenagers engage in alcoholism and drug abuse, putting them at risk of being sexually abused. When one is drunk or under the influence of drugs such as tramadol, ‘red’ and other unprescribed drugs, the person’s sense of judgment is inhibited thereby aiding any form of sexual abuse. A lot of teenage girls have become pregnant after they had been coerced into alcoholism and drugs.
I have also noticed that broken homes are also a major cause of teenage pregnancies as children from such homes are often left to fend for themselves, especially when the parents shirk their responsibilities. When this happens, the girls are deceived by men into sleeping with them with the promise of taking care of them and this sometimes leads to teenage pregnancy as some of these men do not use condom and at the end of the day even go to the extent of denying the pregnancy when confronted about it.
Furthermore, poverty is also a major cause of teenage pregnancy. Girls from poor homes wanting to live like their friends from well-to-do homes are sometimes deceived by men into sleeping with them in exchange for money. They sometimes willingly give themselves to men in exchange for money so that they can fend for themselves. Some irresponsible mothers also push their female children into prostitution girls usher them into doing so and if care is not, the girl ends up pregnant leading to an increase in the teenage pregnancy toll.
Effects
The enormous health implications of teenage pregnancy both the mother and child cannot be overemphasized. A lot of teenage mothers are at high risk of complications such as anemia, premature labor and many more. Also, the babies are more likely to be underweight, premature and face a higher risk of neonatal complications.
Another effect is that it leads to school dropouts. This is because teenage mothers are less likely to complete their education, thus truncating their future aspirations abruptly.
Also, there is the issue of parenting challenges. That is, the teenage mother may lack the emotional and psychological acumen for effective parenting. This has direct repercussions on the upbringing and the development of the child.
Way forward
To solve this, the following must be taken into consideration.
I think that we should step up education on the dangers associated with teenage pregnancy and the need for the promotion of girl-child education. I strongly believe that if teenagers are exposed to the dire consequences of teenage pregnancy in their lives vis-à-vis the life-time transformation they stand to gain if they are well educated.
Furthermore, children should be restricted on what to watch on the mass media. That is, restrictions should be placed on what teenagers can watch to avoid exposing them to pornographic materials. It is not every media content that should be accessible to adolescents and teenagers
I also suggest that the government should strengthen and enforce laws on rape and defilement to deter people, especially men from engaging in this shameful act.
It is my hope that if we all join hands to fight this anti-social canker, we will be collectively securing a brighter future for the girl-child.
Article by Justice Kodzo Wiado, an Adolescent Journalist, Sunyani New Town
