Adolescent mothers deserve care, not condemnation

 Adolescence is expected to be a time of growth and discovery, but for many young girls in Ghana, it becomes a period shadowed by unin­tended pregnancies and fear of seeking help.

Instead of finding compassion at health facilities, adolescent mothers too often faced judg­ment, stigma, and outright rejection from those meant to care for them.

The interim Country Director of Right to Play Ghana, Mr. Ev­ans Sinkari, has rightly warned that such attitudes by some health workers are undermining adolescent healthcare and, by extension, Ghana’s public health goals.

Pregnant adolescents, he noted, are frequently shamed when they seek antenatal care.

This does not only strip them of the dignity they deserve but discourages them from returning for skilled delivery or postnatal services.

The result is devastating. Young mothers, fearing mis­treatment, turn to unsafe abor­tions or unqualified attendants.

Others simply avoid health facilities altogether, putting both their lives and their babies at risk.

The ripple effects are preterm births, low birth weight, and poor child health outcomes.

Adolescent pregnancy is a public health challenge that demands compassion and pro­fessionalism.

Whether pregnancy results from coercion, early marriage, or consensual relationships, young girls must never be de­nied the right to safe, respect­ful, and confidential care.

Ghana has already com­mitted itself through the Ado­lescent Health Services Policy and the National Reproductive Health Services Policy to create supportive and youth-friendly health environments.

What remains is for these policies to move from paper to practice.

It is the view of The Specta­tor that health workers must be trained and retrained to treat adolescents with empathy, not disdain.

The paper also believes that facilities must guarantee priva­cy and reduce the intimidating, adult-focused atmosphere that currently drives young people away.

Beyond saving lives, adoles­cent-friendly antenatal offers young mothers a chance to remain in school, build a future, and break cycles of poverty.

It is also central to achieving Sustainable Development Goal three and five which focuses on good health and well-being and gender equality respectively.

As a country, we must deal with the problem of stigma sur­rounding adolescent mothers. We must be seen to be uphold­ing their rights and liberties instead of the mistreatment.