Adolescents in 5 regions in Ghana lack Sexual Reproductive Health services

Read Time:2 Minute, 28 Second

A study has revealed that adolescents across five regions of Ghana are cut off from assessing Sexual Reproductive Health services in various health facilities.

CAMFED Ghana, which carried out the studies, wants Ghana Education Service (GES) to introduce comprehensive and age-appropriate Sexual Reproductive Health education into the national curriculum.

The initiative is to enhance Sexual and Reproductive Health education and services for adolescents in rural Ghana. The recommendations follow a CAMFED study that analyzed Sexual Reproductive Health services in the five regions where there is a high rate of child marriage, teenage pregnancy as well as Sexually transmitted diseases.

The regions included Ashanti region- Amansie Central, Bono East region-Pru West, Northern region-Tatale Sangule, Central Region-Assin South, and Savannah region- Bole.

The study established, among other things, the existing gaps on topics such as sexual rights, gender-based violence, adolescent reproductive health, and abortion.

It called on the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to establish youth-friendly, confidential, and non-judgmental health services at the community level for the same purpose.

On the demand for SRH knowledge and education, it noted that 80 per cent of 495 households supported the introduction of SRH education, in schools and at home, for young people between ages 10 to 15.

According to the study, health centers, community health workers, schools, religious gatherings, and broadcast media served as key sources of SRH information. However, digital platforms were “underutilized,” due to limited internet access and digital literacy.

CAMFED Ghana and partners said adolescent girls in school demonstrated “higher awareness” of SRH topics than boys, who relied on informal sources such as peers.

Notwithstanding, myths and misconceptions around aspects such as contraceptive side effects continued to be widespread.
Other concerns identified were traditional and cultural beliefs said to be a barrier to SRH education at the household level, as some parents lacked formal training on SRH topics.

The Executive Director, CAMFED Ghana, Fairuza Abdul-Rashid Safian, highlighted progress made over the years and called for a multi-sectorial approach to improving SRH access, empowerment of young girls, and promoting gender equality.

“Approximately 74.3% of households reported using SRH services, with public health facilities being the primary service provider, yet many rural communities have no public health facility and usage varies significantly by district…” she noted.

She said maternal health services and family planning are the most frequently accessed services, whereas legal aid and security services for SRH-related issues are rarely used. She expressed concern over some adolescent girl’s engagement in unsafe abortion practices due to lack of access to proper services.

Insufficient budget allocation for SRH programs, absence of health centers in some rural communities, and inadequate “disability-friendly SRH services” as some challenges in sexual and reproductive health education and service provision,” she reiterated.