She stares the sky with regrets and shame. Covered in the blankets of pain and guilt. Dreams shattered and hopes lost. She wish it didn’t happen but ‘Had I known’ is all she says.

People of her calibre are frowned upon. Because life of the teen mom in her society, is nothing anyone hopes for.
Teenage pregnancy basically refers to pregnancy amongst adolescents thus girls under age 20, commonly between 15 to 19. In Ghana, 76 per 1000 births are born by teenage mothers between the age ranges of 15 to 19 years old.

Between 2016 and 2020, Ghana recorded 542,131 amongst adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 years and 13,444 pregnancies among young teenagers aged 10 to 14years.

This portrays the rise in teenage pregnancy and how impossible it looks to be dealt with despite several measures put in place to help stop this problem.

Undoubtedly, teenage pregnancy carries a lot of negative effects and consequences which retards societal growth, economic development and individual self-esteem. It is therefore sound enough to speak against it as country.
However, in our quest to undermine the practice, much attention and care should be given to the victims of this situation.

Normally, girls who find themselves in this tragic situation are referred to as stubborn, disobedient and notorious girls who are bearing the fruits of what they sowed. Such people are therefore left on their own to battle loneliness, face life and experience the consequences of their stubbornness. This and few others accounts to why abortion or termination becomes the first option and choice for every teenager who gets pregnant.
The impacts of our discrimination and stereotypes against these young ones cause us as a country more harm than the situation (teenage pregnancy) itself.

Young women and girls account for nearly one third of all unsafe abortion-related deaths each year worldwide with 15% of all unsafe abortions taking place among adolescents age 15-19. This factsheet examines the unique abortion related experiences and needs of adolescents (age 15-19) and girls (10-14) based on a comprehensive literature review IPAS conducted in 2018.

Other health problems include psychological disorders, emotional trauma, depression and many others these young ones go through because of our attitudes towards their condition.
Wrapping up, I would like to draw the attention of all young girls to the reality of teenage pregnancy and its effects.

 The situation is uneasy and risky for young people therefore all girls are advised to adhere to measures and conditions laid by our leaders to prevent teenage pregnancy such as abstinence, avoiding bad peers, the use of contraceptives among others.

 Even though unfortunate circumstances like abuse, rape, incest defilement and the like can cause one to be a teen mom, illegal abortion should never be an option in all situations.

Remember your life matters the most. To all and sundry, pregnancy is not a crime but a gift. The acceptance of pregnant teenagers would help if not do away, reduce illegal abortion and the emotional torture thereby saving the lives of our future leaders.
Stop the stereotypes now to reduce depression
Stop the pregnancy stigma today, to save a life tomorrow
Together, we can do this
Long live the teen mom, long live Ghana.

Sompaonline.com/Amoah Abigail