Koforidua: The Eastern Regional Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr. Moses Barima Djimatey, has highlighted adolescent pregnancy and child marriage as pressing public health and development issues that impact the entire nation, necessitating immediate action.
According to Ghana Web, Dr. Djimatey emphasized the significant loss to society with each instance of child marriage, stating, "With every child bride, we lose a future teacher, doctor, scientist, entrepreneur or political leader, and the cost to all of us is tremendous." He explained in an interview with the Ghana News Agency that adolescent pregnancies have severe health repercussions for young girls, which can have lasting effects on families and communities, especially in cases of broken homes.
Adolescent pregnancy is defined as pregnancy in girls aged 10 to 19 years, while child marriage involves any formal or informal union where at least one party is under 18 years old. Dr. Djimatey warned that pregnant adolescents are at an increased risk of maternal and infant mortality and are often deprived of educational and occupational opportunities.
He pointed out that when girls are forced out of school and into early marriages, they lose the chance to acquire the knowledge and power necessary to effect change in their communities. Regional statistics indicate that 9,239 cases of adolescent pregnancy were reported in 2023, compared to 8,638 in 2024. Despite a slight decrease from 11.8 percent to 11.2 percent, Dr. Djimatey noted that the situation remains a concern, as many cases go unreported.
To address these challenges, Dr. Djimatey outlined that health services have implemented measures such as providing skilled care for pregnant adolescents and postpartum family planning services for young mothers. He urged community leaders, including chiefs and religious figures, to promote dialogue about harmful cultural norms and to support parents with effective parenting strategies.
Furthermore, he cautioned against the practice of parents and guardians marrying off young daughters to reduce household expenses. Dr. Djimatey also stressed the importance of enforcing legal measures against child marriage to prevent its occurrence.