Enact by-laws to curtail premarital sex to avoid teenage pregnancy – Assembly and traditional authorities urged

Enact by-laws to curtail premarital sex to avoid teenage pregnancy – Assembly and traditional authorities urged

Madam Serwaa Ayiwa, the Public Health Nurse of Dormaa Central Municipal, has urged the leadership of the local assembly and traditional authorities to enact by-laws aimed at regulating the behavior of adolescents in each community, thereby curbing premarital intercourse and the ensuing issue of teenage pregnancy.

In response to data from the Bono Regional Health Directorate, which disclosed that the Bono Region recorded 14,877 teenage pregnancies between 2021 and 2024, Madam Serwaa Ayiwa expressed deep concern over the situation. She emphasized that the only effective measure to combat the scourge of teenage pregnancy is to prevent adolescents from conceiving, which inherently involves safeguarding them against unprotected intercourse. Consequently, she is appealing to the local assembly leadership and the Nananom to formulate regulations that would restrict teenagers from wandering the streets at night.

She asserted that similar legislation should be enforced upon men, particularly the so-called “sugar daddies,” who entice these young individuals with monetary allure, ultimately jeopardizing their futures through early childhood pregnancy. Furthermore, families of teenage pregnancy victims should face repercussions, as Madam Ayiwa believes this would instill a sense of responsibility in family heads to adequately supervise their children and deter them from engaging in premarital intercourse, thereby averting teenage pregnancy. She implored all stakeholders to rally behind health workers in the battle against the pervasive issue of teenage pregnancy, as healthcare professionals cannot tackle this challenge single-handedly

Madam Serwaa Ayiwa voiced her concern regarding the teenage pregnancy dilemma in the Bono region, characterizing it as disconcerting. She articulated that these young individuals, who represent the nation’s future potential, becoming pregnant at such a formative stage of their lives can occasionally jeopardize their future ambitions, thereby warranting national attention.

She disclosed that over the past four years, the Dormaa Central Health Directorate also recorded 1,702 cases of teenage pregnancy, emphasizing that the battle to eradicate teenage pregnancy must be a united endeavor

Madam Ayiwa revealed the profound health implications linked to teenage pregnancy, emphasizing the distress experienced by young mothers. She highlighted that it can occasionally result in permanent disabilities during childbirth, underscoring the importance of abstaining from premarital sex to avert teenage pregnancy and potential health repercussions.

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