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Teenage pregnancy is one that occurs during a girl’s teenage years. Any pregnancy that occurs when a girl is within the age range of thirteen to nineteen is termed teenage pregnancy.
During a person’s teenage years, many teenagers are tempted to believe that they can do just anything without remembering that they are one way or the other depending on their parents to provide their needs. Due to their physical, mental, emotional and social developments, many teenagers forget this.
There are many causes of teenage pregnancy but one major one is poverty. In Ghana, many children indulge themselves in prostitution just because their parents do not have enough money to support their education or even provide three square meals for the family. They are then forced to go into prostitution to earn some money. Most people may argue about why teenagers go into prostitution in particular, but any one who will tell you the truth about the whole thing will tell you it is an easy and fast way of making money. Many other children also involve themselves in premarital sex because of their curiosity. As we all know, ones teenage years present such a person with various challenges relating to sex. A few teenagers are able to overcome the challenges but in most cases, many of them fall into it. In most Ghanaian communities, children are not allowed to discuss sex openly, unlike the olden days when they received sex education through the performance of puberty rites but due to urbanization and industrialization, these rites are seldom performed. Lack of parental guidance is another. At present, the only form of education these teenagers have from their parents or guardians is a warning to refrain from sex while the required parental guidance and discipline of adolescents is relinquished to teachers at school. Peer pressure is also another reason why many adolescents indulge in sex. Where an adolescent girl or boy has friends who encourage them to involve themselves in sex there is the possibility that they will heed to their words. As it is said, “birds of the same feather flock together”.
There are many effects teenage pregnancy may have on a girl. Social isolation is the first thing she encounters as soon as a teenager gets pregnant. As she is not of age, she hides herself and lacks courage to face society and at times becomes afraid of her own parents. In most cases, her friends are warned not to go near her. She then becomes a topic of discussion wherever people are gathered in the community. Teenage pregnancy can also interrupt a girl’s social and economic advancement. Although not officially required to withdraw from school, most pregnant girls do so voluntarily ensuring at least a temporary and usually permanent halt in education. Career opportunities are then cut off, thus exposing them to economic constraints. Mediaclly, antepartum hemorrhage, postpartum hemorrhage and postpartum fever, sexually transmitted diseases are some of the likely conditions that may affect the teenage mother.
There are many possible solutions to teenage pregnancy. Teenagers must be taught about sexuality and family planning, changing attitudes of early sexual involvement. The government can also help by improving the socio-economic status of the Ghanaian communities. The Health delivery system in Ghana should be improved even more. The government to cater for teenage mothers who are also school dropouts should build rehabilitation centers. At these rehabilitation centers, these teenagers should be introduced to small-scale industries. We must not ignore this problem because if we are to control our population growth then this is one way of doing it. The world is ours to care for and it is up to us all to make sure we do just that.
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Comments
i think you need to read this ELORM KWAME ATISU | Jan 21st, 2003
i think it would be nice experience for everyone to read this article and know people in my country are handling the teenage pregnacy menace
We should not shy away Sheila Namakula | Jan 21st, 2003
I am from a culture that does not consider sex education a topic of discussion, but this has not stopped me from talking to friends and even family members about the realities of being ignorant about the consequences of pre-marital sex. Some elders think that having discussions about sex, with their children/grandchildren is a disgraceful thing to do. I do understand that there is generational gap that creates some of the barriers when it comes to communication about certain issues such as sex education is this case. We have to realize that times are changing and there is almost nothing that one can identify as being a secret. With all the exposure created by the various forms of media how can you be sure that your young ones are safe. Though i may not have the experience of being a parent, i believe that parents should not shy away from topics such as sex education. If you do not have the courage to talk to your own children, who is? Instead of wishing you had taken the time to talk to your children, starting talking because you never know what your children are being exposed to or what pressures they are facing that may cause them to make an error in judgement.
Reggie | Mar 12th, 2003
Sometimes we have to face the facts. Cultures and traditions at times cripple us rather than help us. If it is taboo to speak about sex, we are putting our people at mercy by not informing them. Sex education will not only help in avoiding teenage pregancy but HIV?AIDS as well.
mE
Reggie | Mar 12th, 2003
Sometimes we have to face the facts. Cultures and traditions at times cripple us rather than help us. If it is taboo to speak about sex, we are putting our people at mercy by not informing them. Sex education will not only help in avoiding teenage pregancy but HIV?AIDS as well.
mE
Sex education should be part of secondary school curriculum. salau shakirah abiodun | Feb 25th, 2004
Teenage pregnancy is one aspect of life that we must not understand and discuss properly. It should be discussed at any possible time.I suppose that sex education should be part of senior secondary school subjects,because most teenagers tend to feel more comfortable in the midst of their friends and or teachers, then with their parents.This is because they have been made to beleive that matters relating to sex should not be discussed with teenagers.
Sex education should be part of secondary school curriculum. salau shakirah abiodun | Feb 25th, 2004
Teenage pregnancy is one aspect of life that we must understand and discuss properly. It should be discussed at any possible time.I suppose that sex education should be part of senior secondary school subjects,because most teenagers tend to feel more comfortable in the midst of their friends and or teachers, than with their parents.This is because they have been made to beleive that matters relating to sex should not be discussed with teenagers.
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