If adolescent pregnancy prevention is to become a priority, then our strategy, as advocates, must contain two key elements: civic engagement and education- Jane Fonda (actress and political activist).
This was exactly what Aba needed as a young girl. Having your dreams cut short by unexpected pregnancy is never a wish of any young girl filled with great dreams and passion.
Aba, 16 years, is a Junior High School graduate in Takoradi, who got pregnant before her Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Engaging with Aba, she mentioned that she had no idea about contraceptives before she got pregnant. “I didn’t know I could get pregnant by having sex because my peers did and never got pregnant. I later got to know I could use condoms or pills to protect myself. How I wish I knew this much earlier”.
Aba now a mother said, she feels very shy and uncomfortable mingling with her peers as some of them make fun of her and other parents also prevent their children from getting near her, saying she will be a bad influence to them.
Aba said she only got to know of family planning methods after she got pregnant and was attending antenatal clinic. To make her troubles even worse, her mother who is now very disappointed in her and has limited her support to her. “Even when I was planning to come to this meeting, I pleaded with her to take care of the baby while I go but she refused stating that, I wouldn’t have gotten myself pregnant if I wanted to be attending meetings.”
Currently, Aba is a member of the community youth group where they are educated on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Right, she said, “I’m glad to be part of this group and I wish I knew the things I know now earlier, it would have saved me from this pregnancy”.
