Let’s Work together to prevent teenage pregnancy and HIV spread – Public Health Nurse

Let’s Work together to prevent teenage pregnancy and HIV spread – Public Health Nurse

Madam Marriam Alhassan, a Public Health Nurse at the Dormaa Central Municipal Health Directorate, has called for a united effort from parents, teachers, religious leaders, and relevant stakeholders to address the rising incidence of teenage pregnancies among young girls, who represent the future of the nation.

During an HIV awareness program held at Aboabo No.1 in the Dormaa Central Municipality, Madam Marriam Alhassan expressed concern over the escalating rate of teenage pregnancies in the area. She emphasized that children are the future, and it is crucial for all stakeholders to implement effective measures to mitigate this issue. She highlighted that financial difficulties in some households compel young girls to engage in sexual relationships with men for financial assistance. She also pointed out that the lack of sex education at home and peer pressure are contributing factors.

Furthermore, Madam Alhassan revealed that HIV prevalence is higher among adults, particularly men aged 50 and above, who use monetary influence to entice young women into sexual relationships, leading to HIV infection and eventual pregnancy. She stressed that teenage pregnancy is associated with the spread of HIV, as both result from unprotected sexual activity hence the need to avoid early exposure to sex follow all the HIV preventive measures to prevent HIV Spread and teenage pregnancy.

Madam Mariam Alhassan provided statistics on teenage pregnancies within the Dormaa Central Municipality under the 2025 year under review. She presented a community breakdown of the teenage pregnancy trend, indicating that Danyame is the community with the highest incidence of teenage pregnancies, with a percentage of 5.3%. She reported that in the year 2025, a total of 49 girls aged between 10-14 years became pregnant, while 349 girls aged between 15-19 years also became pregnant, resulting in a total of 398 teenage pregnancies recorded within the Dormaa Central Municipality during the year under review.

Nana Sabi Kyeremeh, the Krotihene of Aboabo No.1, in an exclusive discussion with GIFTs News, emphasized the necessity for stakeholders to enhance educational and awareness programs within schools to reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancies in the Municipality.

Furthermore, he advised that parents should be encouraged to meet the financial needs of their children and provide counseling to their daughters to prevent early exposure to sexual activities.

Story By: Kwaku Mensah Abrampa (GIFTs FM-Dormaa Ahenkro)