摘要
World Health Organization (WHO) defines teenage pregnancy as occurring between the ages of 10 and 19. Although teenagers make up just 22% of the Ghanaian population, in 2014, a Demographic and Health Survey report indicated that teenagers account for 30% of all births recorded. Pregnancies and births during the teenage period are associated with higher risks than older women. This study aimed to identify and establish the knowledge of factors linked to teenage pregnancies among junior high school students in the Talensi District Assembly in the Upper East of Ghana. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 95 Junior High School students from January to February, 2022 for a period of six weeks. Convenience sampling was used to select the participants. Primary data was obtained using a structured questionnaire;secondary data was obtained from the Talensi District Health Directorate and the Talensi District Assembly. Data were analysed using SPSS Version 22. Results. Thirty-six (36, 25.2%) of the respondents intimated that curiosity was a significant cause of teenage pregnancies in the Talensi District, which recorded 19.6% in 2021, an increase over the 2020 figure of 17.7%. Reasons why teenagers would want to engage in sexual activities, included curiosity about sex—36 (27.17%), social media influences—8 (19.58), peer pressure—27 (18.88%) and favours to partners—19 (13.29%). Concerning their knowledge about contraceptive use, the participants mentioned friends (32.26%) as being the prime informants, parents and relatives (17.74%) and radio broadcasts (12.10%). Conclusion: The Talensi District Assembly is entreated to roll out poverty alleviation programmes for families in the area with teenage girls attending school and to enact legislation prohibiting early marriage. Measures that will help reduce teenage pregnancies in the district should include adequate financial support by parents of their wards, sex education in schools and various houses, and schooling of the teenagers to resist peer pressure.
World Health Organization (WHO) defines teenage pregnancy as occurring between the ages of 10 and 19. Although teenagers make up just 22% of the Ghanaian population, in 2014, a Demographic and Health Survey report indicated that teenagers account for 30% of all births recorded. Pregnancies and births during the teenage period are associated with higher risks than older women. This study aimed to identify and establish the knowledge of factors linked to teenage pregnancies among junior high school students in the Talensi District Assembly in the Upper East of Ghana. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 95 Junior High School students from January to February, 2022 for a period of six weeks. Convenience sampling was used to select the participants. Primary data was obtained using a structured questionnaire;secondary data was obtained from the Talensi District Health Directorate and the Talensi District Assembly. Data were analysed using SPSS Version 22. Results. Thirty-six (36, 25.2%) of the respondents intimated that curiosity was a significant cause of teenage pregnancies in the Talensi District, which recorded 19.6% in 2021, an increase over the 2020 figure of 17.7%. Reasons why teenagers would want to engage in sexual activities, included curiosity about sex—36 (27.17%), social media influences—8 (19.58), peer pressure—27 (18.88%) and favours to partners—19 (13.29%). Concerning their knowledge about contraceptive use, the participants mentioned friends (32.26%) as being the prime informants, parents and relatives (17.74%) and radio broadcasts (12.10%). Conclusion: The Talensi District Assembly is entreated to roll out poverty alleviation programmes for families in the area with teenage girls attending school and to enact legislation prohibiting early marriage. Measures that will help reduce teenage pregnancies in the district should include adequate financial support by parents of their wards, sex education in schools and various houses, and schooling of the teenagers to resist peer pressure.
作者
Odalys Rivera Hernandez
Bernard Nyaaba Akolbire
Ana Maria Simono Charadan
Odalys Rivera Hernandez;Bernard Nyaaba Akolbire;Ana Maria Simono Charadan(School of Medicine, University for Development Studies Ghana, Tamale, Ghana;Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana;Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana)
