By Michael Kofi Kentey
Teenage pregnancy in the New Juaben South Municipality in the Eastern Region has seen an increase of 6.1% in 2021 as compared to 5.6% recorded in the year 2020.
The reasons for the increase can be attributed to the enticement by men to provide financial assistance to teenagers and the inability of parents to cater for the needs of these girls.
The Municipal Health Director, Edmund Ekow Kaitoo, at the New Juaben South Health Directorate 2021 Annual Performance Review meeting, revealed that the Municipal Health Directorate recorded 34 maternal mortalities in 2021 as compared to 38 in 2020.
On disease control and surveillance, Dr. Ekow Kaitoo noted that the Directorate recorded three cases of yellow fever in the year 2021,unfortunately the patients lost their lives to the disease.
On Non-Communicable diseases, he noted that hypertension remains the highest recorded disease in the Municipality.
The Acting Municipal Public Health Nurse, Dorcas Asiedu noted that the directorate recorded 559 teen deliveries in 2020 as compared to 419 in 2021.
On teen antenatal care, it increased from 295 in 2020 to 325 in 2021 while teen abortion, remained the same in 2020 and 2021 at 175.
