CULTURE, TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND THE CURTAILING OF GIRLS’ EDUCATION IN EJURA SEKYEDUMASE MUNICIPAL

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah legislated the 1961 Act (Act 87) for free universal primary education for all in Ghana. The Pre-Tertiary Education Act of 2020 consolidated this right of free compulsory universal basic education. These legislations have led to the enrolment of 87% of children in school. Despite the efforts, enormous challenge of girls’ dropouts from school still prevails. Many studies blamed the anomaly on socio-economic factors alone ignoring the role culture/religion might play in this challenge. Thus, this current study fills the knowledge gap by finding out what role culture/religion plays in the cause of teenage pregnancy that limits girls’ education in Ejura Sekyedumase Municipal. The study used the mixed methods with the random sampling technique in the selection of respondents. A descriptive statistical method helped in analysing the quantitative data producing frequencies, cross-tabulations, simple percentages, mean and standard deviations of variables in the presentation of results. The qualitative data, on the other hand, was thematically analysed. The findings revealed that many teenagers in Ejura Sekyedumase Municipal are aware of availability of contraceptives and yet fail to use them because of convergence of cultural /religious beliefs that discourage their use.