Between 2021 and 2024, the Bono Region reported a total of 14,877 teenage pregnancies, as stated by Rita Adjoa Ansong, Deputy Director of Nursing Services (Public Health) at the Bono Regional Directorate of Health. She also noted that there were 1,188 cases of abortion during the same period, involving girls aged 15 to 19 years.
Miss Ansong shared this information at a stakeholders’ meeting in Sunyani, which was part of activities celebrating African Vaccination Week (AVW) and Child Health Promotion Week (CHPW) organised by the Bono Regional Directorate of Health. Providing a breakdown of the statistics, she reported the following figures: – In 2021, there were 3,999 pregnancies and 388 abortions. – In 2022, there were 4,058 pregnancies and 351 abortions. – In 2023, there were 3,492 pregnancies and 217 abortions.- In 2024, there were 3,328 pregnancies and 282 abortions.
Describing the situation as worrying, Miss Ansong called on stakeholders to support efforts aimed at improving Family Planning (FP) coverage among sexually active teenage girls in the region, in order to reduce teenage pregnancies. She stressed that FP enables girls to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, allowing them to continue their education.
Miss Ansong also identified myths and misconceptions, lack of community support, and outdated cultural and religious beliefs as key barriers preventing girls and women from accessing various FP methods. She indicated that regional FP service coverage in 2024 stood at 39.58 percent of the expected target group—women and girls of reproductive age—up from 36.45 percent in 2023.
The acceptor rate for 2024 reflected an increase of 0.08 percent over the previous year. She attributed this marginal improvement to partner collaboration, consistent supply of FP commodities, and the re-registration of users of long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods. Miss Ansong added that the provision of free commodities by organizations such as Marie Stopes, DKT, and the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) also contributed significantly to the increase in acceptor rates.
She underscored that FP empowers women and girls to make informed choices about their futures, leading to healthier pregnancies and reduced maternal deaths. She therefore urged stakeholders and the media to help intensify awareness creation and address existing barriers.
Earlier, Dr. Prince Quarshie, Deputy Director of Public Health at the Bono Regional Directorate of Health, explained that the objective of the meeting was to raise awareness among stakeholders and the public about the importance of immunization and the comprehensive child health services available in the country. He added that the forum also served as a platform to strengthen collaboration among key stakeholders, including government agencies, development partners, community leaders, health professionals, and the media.
The African Vaccination Week (AVW), established in 2010 by the World Health Organization (WHO), is celebrated annually during the last week of April (24th to 30th) to promote immunization as a lifesaving intervention. Dr. Quarshie noted that the Child Health Promotion Week (CHPW), introduced by the Ministry of Health in 2004, is observed from May 5 to May 9 each year and focuses on nutrition, immunization, and preventive care for children under five.
Source: GNA
