Level of Knowledge in Reproductive Health Practices among Senior High School Girls in Greater Accra Region: A Case Study of Two Senior High Schools

Abstract

Adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues have become increasingly prominent and generated widespread international concern. This study was designed to investigate the level of knowledge of senior high school girls on reproductive health practices. This objective was achieved by exploring respondents’ knowledge on contraceptives and pregnancy prevention; exploring respondents’ level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS and finding out the challenges adolescents face in accessing knowledge on contraceptives. Three research questions were asked and hypotheses tested. A mixed method was used through survey and interview among two senior schools in Greater Accra Region namely Kinbu Senior High School and Apostle Christo Asafo Senior High School. Findings indicate that the type of school (private or public) attended has no effect on their knowledge in contraceptives. Some challenges in accessing knowledge on contraceptives were discussed and analyzed. It was recommended that nurses and other health workers should not humiliate adolescents who show interest in contraceptives; future researchers should also look at how adolescents perceive reproductive health issues and how their personal, social, cultural affect their reproductive health issues; the study has also provided data which will inform policy makers in the implementation of adolescents’ reproductive health programmes in Ghana and the world at large.