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The Bono Region has recorded a concerning 14,877 teenage pregnancies between 2021 and 2024, according to Rita Adjoa Ansong, Deputy Director of Nursing Services (Public Health) at the Bono Regional Health Directorate.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Sunyani to mark African Vaccination Week (AVW) and Child Health Promotion Week (CHPW), Ms. Ansong also revealed that 1,188 cases of abortion were recorded over the same period. These involved girls aged between 15 and 19 years.
Breaking down the data, she noted that 2021 saw 3,999 pregnancies and 388 abortions, followed by 4,058 pregnancies and 351 abortions in 2022. In 2023, there were 3,492 pregnancies and 217 abortions, while 2024 recorded 3,328 pregnancies and 282 abortions.
Describing the statistics as troubling, Ms. Ansong appealed to all relevant parties to strengthen efforts to improve family planning (FP) access among sexually active teenagers. “FP enables girls to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, allowing them to continue their education,” she stated.
She identified several barriers preventing young people from using family planning methods, including “myths and misconceptions, lack of community support, and outdated cultural and religious beliefs.”
On a positive note, Ms. Ansong reported progress in family planning coverage, noting that the region reached 39.58 percent coverage in 2024, up from 36.45 percent in 2023. She highlighted a 0.08 percent rise in acceptor rates, which she linked to effective collaboration with partners, steady supply of FP commodities, and re-registration of long-term contraceptive users.
She further explained that organizations such as Marie Stopes, DKT, and the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) played a major role in improving access by providing free contraceptives. “FP empowers women and girls to make informed choices about their futures, leading to healthier pregnancies and reduced maternal deaths,” she emphasized, calling on stakeholders and the media to help tackle the ongoing challenges.
Also addressing the gathering, Dr. Prince Quarshie, Deputy Director of Public Health at the Bono Regional Health Directorate, said the meeting aimed to increase awareness about immunization and child health services across the region.
“The forum also served as a platform to strengthen collaboration among key stakeholders, including government agencies, development partners, community leaders, health professionals, and the media,” he added.
He explained that African Vaccination Week (AVW), which runs from April 24 to 30, was established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2010 to highlight the importance of immunization as a vital public health tool.
Meanwhile, the Child Health Promotion Week (CHPW)—celebrated from May 5 to 9 each year—was introduced by Ghana’s Ministry of Health in 2004 to promote child wellness through nutrition, immunization, and preventive care for children under five.
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