The Acting Municipal Health Director at the Assin Fosu Municipality, Mr Benjamin Amoakoh has expressed much concern about the increasing rate of teenage pregnancy mostly among school girls in the municipality.
In an exclusive interview with Kwame Owusu Asante Shadrack, Mr Amoakoh said 114 representing 13.9% out of the total 819 pregnancies they recorded in the 1st quarter of 2021 (January to March) are teenagers.
He indicated that they recorded 378 cases of teenage pregnancies out of the total 3,054 pregnancies in the 2020 year under review.
It is bad news and it augurs disaster that need swift measures to curb the upsurge of teenage pregnancy cases in the municipality.
Mr Benjamin Amoakoh said that Antenatal care serves as a key entry point for a pregnant woman to receive a broad range of services and should be initiated at the onset of pregnancy.
But due to shyness, these teenagers initiate it at the die embers of their pregnancy. He also said teenage pregnancy comes with unique challenges therefore they should bury the shame and visit the antenatal clinic regularly to avoid a higher risk of health problems for both the mother and the baby.
He advised the nurses to refrain from chastising adolescent pregnant girls as it discourages them from attending antennal care clinic regularly.
He also appealed to the public to report rude and unfriendly health care service personnel to his outfit for disciplinary action.
