Poor parental control cause of increasing teenage pregnancy - Dr Vanotoo

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Dr Linda Vanotoo, Acting Western Regional Director of Health Services on Wednesday observed that the increasing rate of teenage pregnancies in the Western Region was due to lack of parental care.

She said most of the young girls lacked the requisite parental care and control and were easily influenced by adult men to engage in sex.

Dr Vanotoo made the observation at a press briefing to launch Integrated Maternal Child Health Campaign (IMCHC) at Takoradi.

It is on theme “Healthy Mothers and Children Make a Better Ghana” and would be celebrated nation-wide from October 16 - 18 this year.

She explained that the campaign would encourage registration of births, de-worming of children who are over two years, use of insecticide treated bed nets and Vitamin A Supplement.

Dr Vanotoo said poverty, high school drop out rate and the culture in a community were contributory factors to the increase in teenage pregnancies.

She said this could be reduced, when parents educated their children on the effects of sex and changes in their bodies.

Dr Vanotoo said introduction of the free maternal health care initiative by Government was to offer pregnant women access to health facilities.

“The policy is not to encourage teenagers to engage in sex and become pregnant but rather to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality among pregnant woman,” she stressed.

Dr Vanotoo said the responsibility of caring for children after delivery was their responsibility and teenage mothers should be ready for the task ahead.