Reproductive Health needs of Adolescent School Dropouts in the Ga East Municipality
Date
2012-07
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Publisher
University of Ghana
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Adolescents represent one of the main pillars of any society. They are, however, a vulnerable
group who face many challenges during this period including issues concerning their
reproductive health. It is also estimated that one out of five adolescent aged 10 – 19 years has at
least one serious reproductive health problem which include early pregnancy resulting in school
dropout, unsafe abortion and STIs including HIV.
OBJECTIVE
This study explored the reproductive health needs, awareness and services available to
adolescent school dropouts in the Ga East Municipality.
METHODS
The study was cross sectional in design and employed a quantitative data collection approach. A
sample of 333 adolescent school dropouts was selected from the sub-municipalities of Ga East
with the help of community guides. Statistical analysis of the data was done using PASW version
18.0. Chi square analysis was used to determine association between explanatory and outcome
variables of interest.
RESULTS
The study revealed that more than half of the adolescent school dropouts (57.4%) had ever had
sex with 36.7% of them not using any form of contraception. The age of respondents had a
significant influence on whether they had heard of contraception. The greatest barrier to
accessing reproductive health by these adolescents is lack of information. They expect the health
worker to be providing such information.
CONCLUSION
Lack of adolescent friendly corners cause adolescents to have limited access to their reproductive
health needs and they tend to talk to their friends/peers. This makes them vulnerable and exposes
them to various reproductive health problems like unintended pregnancies, STIs and dropping
out of school. Most adolescents were aware of contraception but their greatest barrier according
to them to accessing this was lack of information and this is supported by a study conducted in
the same municipality on in-school adolescents which also stated that though most adolescents
were aware of contraception, they may be engaging in early sex as a result of lack of information
( Okotah & Laar, 2012) .
Description
Thesis (MPH) - University of Ghana, 2012