Navigating sexual and reproductive health issues: Voices of deaf adolescents in a residential school in Ghana

Abstract

Globally, the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of adolescents continue to receive a lot of attention; yet little focus has been placed on the SRH needs of adolescents with disabilities, particularly in developing countries. While adolescents with disabilities experience the same feelings, needs, and desires as those without disabilities, society tends to underestimate their SRH concerns. Furthermore, adolescents with disabilities may have limited access to SRH information in comparison with their peers without disabilities and may also encounter challenges with communicating their SRH concerns. Guided by the Social Cognitive theory (SCT), this study focuses on the knowledge and experiences of selected deaf adolescents in a residential school in Ghana regarding SRH. Using Ghanaian Sign Language, twenty-five (25) participants (13 females and 12 males) aged 15–19 years were en gaged in qualitative in-depth interviews. While some of the participants reported abstaining from sex despite pressure from peers, others disclosed that they had sexual experiences, both consensual and non-consensual. In most cases, these SRH behaviors were found to be influenced by participants’ personal and environmental factors. Participants mentioned talking to teachers, peers, health professionals, parents and siblings about their SRH issues, but findings revealed challenges and reservations about communication with these groups of people in their social environment., It is recommended that SRH intervention strategies for deaf adolescents should focus on enhancing communication opportunities (especially with Sign Language) with parents and health professionals as they are critical elements in their environment for promoting healthy SRH behaviors.