A Multifaceted Investigation into the Menace of Teenage Pregnancies in a Rural Ghanaian Community

Abstract

Introduction: Babies should be born to developed and well-adjusted parents in safe relationships and with the means to support and care for them. This will enable them to have a conducive atmosphere for their proper growth and development. Such a conducive atmosphere is usually not available for babies born to teenagers in rural Ghana. Aim: The research sought to investigate several aspects of the incidence of teenage pregnancies in Penkye community, a rural community in the Effutu Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed for the study. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from sixty (60) respondents through a purposive sampling technique. Data were analysed with the aid of SPSS version 19 and presented quantitatively. Results: The study found that teenage pregnancies were high among teenagers between the ages of 17 and 19. The study also identified that all the teenagers knew of contraceptives but only a few used contraceptives. Peer influence, broken homes, and poverty were identified as the main factors contributing to the incidence of teenage pregnancies in the study area. Conclusion: Teenage pregnancies have adverse effects on the physical, social, mental health and socio-economic status of the mother, the new-born and the community at large. Therefore, it is necessary to put in measures to reduce the occurrence of teenage pregnancies in the society. Recommendations: Based on findings of the study, there is the need for government through the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education to incorporate adolescent health programmes in the school curriculum to empower teenagers to make better life choices and develop social support systems to assist teenage mothers.