Factors influencing teenage pregnancy in Komenda, Edina, Eguafo Abirem Municipality

Abstract

Adolescents are the most important sexually active population in our societies, and given their size and characteristics, majority are exposed to early unplanned and unprotected sexual intercourse leading to unwanted pregnancy and sometimes unsafe abortions. Teenage pregnancy has become very common in the Ghanaian society, especially among adolescents at the Primary and Junior High School (JHS) levels of education. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in the Komenda, Edina, Eguafo Abrem Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana from 2012-2016. The study employed descriptive survey design to purposively sample teenage mothers and pregnant teenagers seeking antenatal and postnatal care at the Elmina Urban Health Centre and Ankaful Leprosy/General Hospital. Questionnaire and secondary data was collected and analyzed using simple frequencies and percentages. The finding revealed 25% prevalence of teenage pregnancy among the adolescents between 2012 and 2016. Poverty, peer pressure, and the influence of the media (electronic and social) were found to be the major risk factors to influence teenage pregnancy among the participants. Birth complications and school dropouts were the major consequences of teenage pregnancy among the participants. It was concluded that the high prevalence of teenage in the municipality could also lead to high presence of sexually transmitted infections. It was therefore recommended that municipal assemblies establish trade schools as well as use successful indigenes as role models to increase students’ ambition for the future and decrease their engagement in the sexual activities. Also, condom usage should be highlighted in the schools to help those who cannot abstain to use protection.