The Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER) has revealed that 10.7 percent of teenagers aged between 15 and 19 got impregnated last year.

That is about 102,000 teenagers countrywide.

According to ISSER’s latest report, this is one of the key issues now affecting teenagers across the country.

The Head of the Social Division of ISSER, Dr Martha Awo, giving details of the research said that “the country recorded 10.7% of pregnancies among teenagers aged 15 and 19 in 2022.”

Per the data at the regional level, North East Region leads the chart with a high number of teenage pregnancies of 15%.

This is followed by Upper East with 14.2% and Oti with a 13.8% record.

According to Dr Awo, “the situation in these regions was the same with just about 1% higher in 2021.”

 “Adolescent pregnancies are more common in marginalised areas and are often caused by poverty, limited employment opportunities, and lack of education,” she added.

On his part, the Programmes Officer for the Family Health Division of Safe Motherhood said more than 7,000 abortions were committed by teenage girls in 2022.

“About 55% of pregnancies are unintended among adolescents aged between the ages of 15 and 19 years, and this is more often unsafe in low-middle income countries.

“As per what we have in the data we know that we are in the range of seven to 8000s per day and last year, we recorded 7,617 abortions in the age category of 10 to 19,” he disclosed.