Some selected young girls in communities considered high risk when it comes to issues of Teenage Pregnancy have benefited from a Reproductive Health Training to become Ambassadors in their communities.
The training has become necessary following statistics which show that about 30 percent of all births registered in the country are those of adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 years.
Such pregnancies and deliveries by adolescents are accompanied by more risks as compared to older women and put the lives of the children and their unborn babies at risk.
Project Coordinator of Purim Africa Youth Development Platform, Edna Yeboah said 15,000 girls are expected to receive training to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancies in the country.
Pregnancies and deliveries of adolescents between the ages of 10 to 19 years are accompanied by more risks as compared to older.
According to the WHO, stillbirths and losing a baby within 6 weeks after the birth of children from adolescent mothers are up to 50 percent higher as compared to the children of mothers between the ages of 20 and 29.
Furthermore, children of young mothers are more likely to be preterm, whereas the delivery can be prolonged. Additionally, the birth weight may also be decreased.
The training, which is treating topics such as reproduction, communication skills and the value of the Ghanaian tradition, was to ensure that under-aged girls do not become victims.
According to the Project Coordinator, Edna Yeboah, about 15,000 girls are expected to be reached.
The project is also being implemented in the Ningo Prampram, Assin South, Kintampo South, Bono East and the Kumasi Metro.
STORY BY: DOREEN AMPOFO
