Deaths recorded during adolescent childbirth

Kumasi, March 16, GNA- Seventeen adolescents died during child birth last year, Madam Agnes A. Nkumfo, Ashanti Regional Deputy Director of Nursing Services in-charge of Public Health said on Tuesday. She said the 17 included 172 maternal deaths recorded for the same period, while 20 adolescents out of the same figure died in 2002 representing a percentage figure of 11.6.

Presenting a paper on: "Adolescent and Sexual Reproductive Health" at a workshop on adolescent sexual and reproductive health policy related issues in Kumasi on Tuesday, Madam Nkumfo described abortion as the leading cause of maternal mortality among adolescents. The two-day workshop is being organised by the National Population Council (NPC) secretariat. It is being attended by members of the Population Advisory Committee in Ashanti as part of the African Youth Alliance (AYA) project.

Madam Nkumfo, who is also the regional focal person for adolescent and sexual reproductive health, said adolescents face a lot of problems, which include lack of reproductive and sexual health information, education and services, gender inequality and discrimination against girls.

She said stakeholders in the communities including chiefs, Queenmothers, district assemblies and health organisation should all get involved in helping the adolescents.

Mr Benneh Diawuo, Ashanti Regional Population Officer, who spoke on "Policies and Laws on Adolescents and Sexual Reproductive Health in Ghana", said there was the need for all stakeholders to evolve strategies that would enable the adolescent get involved in moulding their lives.

He said there was the need to also relate issues to the adolescent to let them know that the policies and implementation of programmes were aimed at their own good.

Mr Diawuo called on the media to focus most of their problems towards adolescents since they need education and information on their activities.