TODAY'S MOVIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TEENAGE PREGNANCY or teenage pregnancy; the decision lies on the youth.

Throughout history, children are known to be gifts from God, but for some, it is either considered a curse or a misfortune, especially when it is not planned for. The arrival of a child must always be prepared for. In the situation, where a teenager gives birth, the idea of preparation is forgotten and neglected. Teenage pregnancy, recently, has become a topic of discussion in most of our societies and has eventually gained media attention. Its occurrence has become very frequent making one wonder if the innumerable sex education campaigns given through Ghana Education Service (GES) syllabus, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and through the media, just only fall on deaf ears.

The issue of teenage pregnancy has become very common in the Ghanaian society, especially among the Junior High School (JHS) students. Some have no choice than to take their pregnancy to their examinations halls, where they sit for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Some also have to be there a couple of days after giving birth, while in bad health conditions and some also have to give birth or abort at the examination centers as one was reported in Ashanti region this year during BECE. The previous impression was that, teenage pregnancy often happens among uneducated teenagers with no parental guidance, but of late this notion seems to be erroneous, as the today's culprits are those in school.

Teenage pregnancy is where a girl between the ages of 12-19, gets pregnant. In Ghana, teenage pregnancy occurs among ages as low as 13. These unfortunate teenagers have no knowledge or idea as to how to go about things concerning the pregnancy. Following the publications of The Ghanaian Times Newspaper dated 21st April, 2009, two teenage nursing mothers and two teenage children, were among candidates taking the BECE in the Ho municipality. One was 13 years and the other 15, and they were all determined to write the examinations. For those who are not fortunate, and get themselves in the cities as a result of child trafficking, have no choice when they are deserted by their guardians, than to go into prostitution. Notwithstanding that, teenagers undergo poor nutrition therapy as a result of financial problems which risks the safety of child delivery, contributing to maternal deaths.

Teenage pregnancy has the possibility of causing a nation to lose her potential future leaders and again, the teenager in question, might become a school drop-out, rejected, mocked, failed and end up frustrated her life. In some situations, the teenage mother decides to continue her education; however, her level of concentration in class drastically reduces, making her fall academically. This poor academic performance on her part results in constant repetition in class, and when she becomes too frustrated about her constant repetition, she quits. Furthermore, the mother, being a teenager finds it extremely difficult in raising her child in a well-cultured manner. The child grows lacking social values, and moral standards.

At certain times, due to the anger she holds against herself for committing such a horrendous mistake, she tends to vent her anger on the child, which consequentially breeds lack of communication, tenderness, care and love between the mother and the child.

The mother becomes jobless, poor and ends up in a very low standard of living as a result of school drop-out. Providing adequately for her child becomes extremely difficult and in this case, the child begins to seek help from elsewhere, especially from men, and might end up getting pregnant at a tender age thereby becoming a living testimony of the adage “ like mother like child”. The boys also go through a lot frustration and drop –out from school.

There are other health risks that come along with teenage pregnancy such as, spread of STDs, still birth, undeveloped baby and abortion which might lead to loss of child or mother since her bones are premature.

The best ways to prevent teenage pregnancy have been suggested by health pundits as A B C; where A; abstinence, B; be faithful to your partner and C; condom use. I would like to add the D; discipline or self control.

Following the kinds of movies, some entertain programs and discussions that run on both our national televisions and various radio stations to our youth; one would expect nothing from them but a hunger and desire for indiscriminate sex. Our world around us in many ways appears to be out of control, everywhere people are sexually out of control, emotionally out of control and morally out of control. In light of this, we need discipline our media, in our houses, churches and schools to curb the high level of moral decadence in our society. The policy makers and the law enforcing agents also need to be discipline to ensure sanitation in our media programs

It is a fact that during the teenage period of any human, curiosity comes in mind, especially the desire to experience sex. Even though it is a natural phenomenon for any youth to harbor this feelings but discipline can master and conquer that feelings. Discipline rules the mind, emotions and thoughts. It brings self-denial and causes one to wait patiently till the right time. The great Confucius puts it: “He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior” and Aristotle supports it by saying: “I count braver him who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies, for the hardest victory is over self.”

Sex is a good thing and God intend it for married couples who are ready to bear its consequences. The menace of teenage pregnancy is slowly killing the destiny of our youth and the future of this great nation. With discipline that is born out of decision; a decision that says no to present pleasures, lust and sexual satisfaction, we can conquer this generation killer; teenage pregnancy.

By SCHANDORF ADU BRIGHT (RENARSA -KNUST PRESIDENT).