Source: All Africa
Reports reaching The Chronicle indicate that women in the three northern regions of Ghana grow older more easily than those in the south, due to uncontrolled birth practices.

According to the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey report for 2008, a single woman in the northern region of Ghana gives birth to at least seven children before reaching menopause.

This figure, according to the survey, is far higher than the national birth rate of four children per every woman.

Against this backdrop, the Northern Regional Population Officer, Chief Alhassan Issahaku Amadu, has advised women in the three northern regions to "unconditionally" reduce the rate at which they give birth to children, in order to stay strong and active.

He said there were several examples of women in the north who had given birth to more than 10 or 14 children without any recourse to their health and the good upbringing of the kids.

According to him, it was extremely dangerous for the women who are already burdened with numerous responsibilities in the home to give birth to so many children. "Unfortunately, most of these women who are even properly married do not go for antenatal services, not to talk about the young girls who cannot trace the men who made them pregnant," he said.

Addressing a number of women at a public forum in Tamale, organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana) on male involvement in promoting gender equality and reproductive health, Chief Amadu maintained that women who give birth to so many children grow older at an abnormal rate, as compared to those who give birth to a sizeable number of children with intervals.

The forum, which was supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), was under the theme: "Males involvement in promoting gender equality and reproductive health of women," brought together the various civil society organisations (CSOs) and departments involved in women issues.

The objective of the conference was to ensure constructive male involvement in gender equality, women's rights, reproductive health, and the introduction of concrete and effective strategies to involve men in reproductive health issues from a gender-equity perspective and call for male commitment to implementing these strategies.

"In fact, the rate at which women in Northern Ghana give birth needs critical consideration or attention, because it is not helping our women in terms of their health and socio-economic growth."

He revealed that statistics from the Ghana Demographic and Health survey report for 2008 and the 2000 Population and Housing Census indicate that the average number of children per every single woman in the Northern Region was 6.8%, representing about 7 children per woman, against the maximum national figure of 4 children per woman.

The Regional Population boss, also a motivational speaker and advocate for behavioral change, however, attributed the frequent child bearing among couples in the north to religious interpretation and cultural misapplication, coupled with the high desire for unprotective sex.

Chief Amadu bemoaned why the women and their husbands had always failed to realise that poverty was eminent, and therefore, ought to give birth to a small and manageable number of children.

He said a large number of these children had become irresponsible and hopeless, simply because they had not been given the needed parental care and support.

According to him, what had compounded the situation was the fact that only 6% of married women in the north, between 15 and 49 years, use any form of contraceptive. And only 27% of women who give birth in the region are assisted by skilled personnel.

The Regional Population Officer disclosed that the number of children between the ages of 1 and 15 constitute about 47% of the total population of the whole Northern Region, and about 23% of young girls between ages 12 and 19 are already mothers, or are currently pregnant in the region.

The Northern Regional Programmes Coordinator for the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana), Madam Saratu Mahama, on her part, said women alone could not achieve gender equality, sexual and reproductive health without the cooperation, support and participation of men.

She has, therefore, called on men to show love and care, and also contribute to the fight against maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS among women in society.

Madam Saratu Mahama said despite the massive awareness being created about the harmful effects of domestic violence, it was believed that deeply entrenched socio-cultural practices and systems held by men still continue to perpetuate violence against women.

A representative of the United Nations Population Fund, which sponsored the conference, Madam Miriam Iddrisu, was of the strong belief that men could become valuable partners in addressing reproductive health issues, from maternal mortality to violence against women, if they were given the relevant information and education. 

• Ghana