A recent study by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed that one in every ten adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 had engaged in sexual intercourse before turning 15 as of 2022.

The findings, derived from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS), indicate that 10.2 percent of adolescent girls initiated sexual activity before age 15.

Adolescents constitute 22 percent of Ghana’s total population.

Although the proportion of young girls engaging in early sexual activity has declined slightly from 12 percent in 1993 to 10.2 percent in 2022, the two percent reduction over 29 years is considered minimal, given the numerous educational campaigns aimed at curbing the trend.

The report, titled Adolescent Risky Behaviour, was presented by the Government Statistician, Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim, at a forum in Accra.

It revealed that 15.2 percent of teenage girls had ever been pregnant, 4 percent had experienced pregnancy loss, and 10.9 percent had become mothers.

The study also highlighted a worrying increase in the prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among adolescents.

Among females aged 15 to 19, STI rates rose from 2.2 percent in 2003 to 7.1 percent in 2022.

For their male counterparts, the prevalence surged from 2.2 percent to 12.5 percent over the same period.

Additionally, data from the Ghana AIDS Commission showed that adolescents aged 10 to 19 made up 6 percent of the country’s HIV population in 2022.

A total of 1,791 new HIV infections—representing 10.8 percent of all new cases—occurred within this age group.

The report highlighted the growing concern of early sexual activity, with young adolescent females more affected than their male counterparts. Nine out of the ten districts with the highest prevalence of girls engaging in sex before age 16 were in the Ashanti Region.

These districts included Akrofuom (42.07 percent), Amansie South (41.4 percent), Amansie Central (40.97 percent), Amansie West (40.2 percent), and Adansi Asokwa (39.5 percent).

Other districts in the top 10 were Adansi South (39.1 percent), Asante Akim South (38.3 percent), Bosome Freho (38.2 percent), and Ahafo Ano South East (37.7 percent).

Bia East in the Western Region was the only district outside Ashanti to feature, with a prevalence of 37.9 percent.

Among adolescent boys, one in every three aged 16 to 19 had engaged in sexual activity before turning 16. The Eastern Region had the highest prevalence, with all 33 of its districts ranking among the top 33 districts for early sexual initiation among males.

The worst-affected areas were Upper Manya Krobo (35.7 percent), Atiwa West (35.0 percent), Upper West Akim (34.5 percent), Suhum (34.0 percent), and Kwahu Afram Plains (34.0 percent).

The report also found that adolescent females aged 15 to 19 in the Bono and Western North Regions had the highest rates of engaging in sexual activity with multiple partners.

Dormaa East District in Bono led with a prevalence rate of 38.7 percent, followed by Dormaa Central (37.7 percent), Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai in Western North (37.5 percent), and Sefwi Wiawso (37.4 percent).

Other high-prevalence districts included Berekum East (37.3 percent), Berekum West (36.9 percent), Juaboso (36.8 percent), Jaman South (36.5 percent), Dormaa West (36.0 percent), and Suaman (35.8 percent).

For adolescent males with multiple sexual partners, the Oti Region recorded the highest rates, with all nine of its districts ranking among the top 10. Guan District had the highest prevalence at 36.3 percent, followed by Nkwanta South (35.4 percent), Krachi West (35.0 percent), Krachi Nchumuru (35.0 percent), and Jasikan (34.3 percent).

Reacting to the findings, the Executive Director of Child Rights International, Bright Appiah, described the situation as alarming and called for intensified educational efforts to curb early sexual activity among adolescents.

“If the necessary measures are not taken in time, our children will face serious health implications in the near future,” Mr. Appiah warned.

He emphasized the need for comprehensive sex education, improved parental guidance, and targeted interventions to address risky behaviors among young people.

The study underscores the urgency of implementing effective policies to address adolescent reproductive health and protect young people from the dangers associated with early and unprotected sexual activity.