Poverty, major contributing factor to teenage pregnancy

Apam (C/R), May 27, GNA - An executive member of the Apam Dressmakers and Tailoring Association, Madam Victoria Aidoo, has identified poverty among girls as a major contributing factor to the increasing rate of teenage pregnancy in the Apam area of the Gomoa District in the Central Region.

She, therefore, appealed to the district assembly and the National Council for Women and Development to make credit facilities available to young skilled girls in the district to make them financially self-reliance.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Apam on Thursday, Madam Aidoo said, her investigation has revealed that most of the young women including their apprentices were not being provided with their needs by their parents. She said these teenagers, who go through this difficulties were compelled to accept gifts from men, which eventually resulted in this men impregnating them.

According to her, in most cases the men did not take care of the unwanted child, leaving the responsibility of the child onto the girl all alone

Madam Aidoo told parents that it is their responsibility to care for the needs of their wards when they put them into apprenticeship. She advised the apprentices not to be interested in acquiring expensive items now that they are learning to acquire trade, because the quest of acquiring such items could land them into difficulties. 27 May 05