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What emerging adults are saying about sexual and reproductive health programmes: Evidence from a suburb in Accra, Ghana

Laud Sowah, University of Ghana,legon
Adriana A. Biney, University Of Ghana
Donatus Yaw Atiglo, University Of Ghana
Delali Badasu, Regional Institute for Population Studies
Augustine Ankomah, Population Council

Evidence suggests that access to appropriate sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information by adolescents and youth has not improved, while their utilization of health services remains poor. This issue persists despite efforts to provide programmes and services for adolescents. Furthermore, the literature indicates that little has been done to include male youth, even within the urban setting. Thus, this study conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with emerging adults (18-24 years), residing in an urban setting in Ghana, to gain insights their knowledge and experiences with SRH programmes as well as their recommendations to improve SRH education and services. Preliminary findings suggest these urban emerging adults had access to some education at junior and senior high school. They derived benefits from the SRH education but required more appropriate content to match their needs. In order to improve programmes, adolescents wanted access to education and services in their respective settings, whether at the university, from master crafts people, or at the community level. Also, those providing the content should be non-judgmental in order for youth to receive the content. SRH programmes should ensure emerging adults’ stakeholders provide accurate, appropriate and non-judgemental education and interventions to improve their health.

Keywords: Children and youth, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Urbanization and urban populations, Qualitative data/methods/approaches

See paper.

  Presented in Session 19. Men as Part of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Equation