Family Planning Needs of Adolescents in Predominantly Rural Communities in the Central Part of Ghana

Yeetey Enuameh, Obed Ernest Nettey, Emmanuel Mahama, Charlotte Tawiah, Ellen Boamah, Abubakari Sulemana, George Adjei, Stephanie Gyaase, Samuel Afari Asiedu, Alexander Manu, Charles Zandoh, Kwaku Poku Asante, Seth Owusu-Agyei

Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC), Kintampo, Ghana.

DOI: 10.4236/ojpm.2015.56030                

Abstract

The manuscript presents findings of a descriptive analysis of data from a cross-sectional study of adolescents aimed at identifying their family planning needs and the best approaches to addressing them in the Kintampo Districts of Ghana. Data for the paper were from the family planning module of a sexual and reproductive health survey carried out by the Kintampo Health and Demographic Surveillance System in 2011. Adolescents in this study recorded high marital (1.6% females and 0.4% males) and pregnancy rates (11.5% females and 1.5% males). Their knowledge of contraceptive methods was high (87.7% females and 82% males), but utilization was low (17.9% females and 6% males). Most study participants viewed family planning as important to their health and wellbeing (59.6% females and 58.6% males). A minority of adolescents were of the perception that contraceptive use was solely the responsibility of women (41.1% females and 32.4% males); and that the use of contraceptives could lead to promiscuity among women (43.8% females and 42.5% males). Those adolescents who previously had unwanted pregnancies would have accepted some help in preventing it (33.1% females and 9.1% males). Recommendations made by respondents included creating a friendly atmosphere by care providers for family planning services delivery to adolescents. Other suggestions were ensuring that family planning services are available and accessible to adolescents, and educating adolescents on the diverse methods available.

Keywords

Adolescents, Family Planning, Contraceptives, Kintampo, Ghana

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	World Health Organization (WHO) (2002) Adolescent Friendly Health Services: An Agenda for Change. WHO, Geneva, 44.
[2]	WHO (2003) Preparing for Adulthood: Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health. Progress in Reproductive Health Research. WHO, Geneva.
[3]	Cobb, N.J. (2001) Adolescence: Continuity, Change and Diversity. 4th Edition, Mayfield Publishing Company, London.
[4]	James-Traore, T.A. (2001) Developmentally Based Interventions and Strategies: Promoting Reproductive Health and Reducing Risk among Adolescents. FOCUS Tool Series 4, FOCUS on Young Adults, Washington DC.
[5]	Institute of Medicine (IOM) and National Research Council (NRC) (2008) Adolescent Health Services: Missing Opportuinties. National Academies Press, Washington DC, 368.
[6]	Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) (2012) 2012 Population and Housing Census: Summary Report of Final Results. GSS, Accra.
[7]	Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC) (2010) The Kintampo Health Research Centre Annual Report for Year 2010. KHRC, Kintampo.
[8]	WHO (2012) Family Planning. http://www.who.int/topics/family_planning/en/
[9]	GSS (2011) Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey with an Enhanced Malaria Module and Biomarker. Final Report, GSS, Accra.
[10]	GSS, Ghana Health Service (GHS) and ICF Macro (2009) Ghana Demographic Health Survey 2008. GSS, GHS & ICF Macro, Accra.
[11]	Owusu-Agyei, S., Nettey, O.E., Zandoh, C., Abubakari, S., Adda, A., Amenga-Etego, S. and Mbacke, C. (2012) Demographic Patterns and Trends in Central Ghana: Baseline Indication from the Kintampo Health and Demographic Surveillance System. Global Health Action, 5, Article ID: 19033. http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/gha.v5i0.19033
[12]	Biddlecom, A., Hessburg, L., Singh, S., Bankole, A. and Darabi, L. (2007) Protecting the Next Generation in Sub-Saharan Africa: Learning from Adolescents to Prevent HIV and Unintended Pregnancies. Guttmacher Institute, New York.
[13]	United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (2005) State of World Population 2005: The Promise of Equality, Gender Equity, Reproductive Health and the Millenium Development Goals.
[14]	UNFPA/Population Reference Bureau (PRB) (2012) Status Report: Adolescents and Young People in Sub-Saharan Africa, Opportunities and Challenges. UNFPA/PRB, Washington DC.
[15]	Ringheim, K. and Gribble, J. (2010) Improving the Reproductive Health of Sub-Saharan Africa’s Youth: A Route to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals. PRB, Washington DC.
[16]	Boamah, E.A., Asante, K.P., Mahama, E., Manu, G., Ayipah, E.K., Adeniji, E. and Owusu-Agyei, S. (2014) Use of Contraceptives among Adolescents in Kintampo, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study. Open Access Journal of Contraception, 5, 7-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OAJC.S56485
[17]	Awusabo-Asare, K., Biddlecom, A., Kumi-Kyereme, A. and Patterson, K. (2006) Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Ghana: Results from the 2004 National Survey of Adolescents, in Occasional Reports. Guttmacher Institute, New York.
[18]	National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) (2011) 2011 Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. Summary Report, NBS, Abuja.
[19]	Walker, J.A. (2012) Early Marriage in Africa-Trends, Harmful Effects and Interventions. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 16, 231-240.
[20]	Westoff, C.F. (2003) Trends in Marriage and Early Childbearing in Developing Countries. DHS Comparative Reports, ORC Macro, Calverton.
[21]	Kothari, M.T., Wang, S., Head, S.K. and Abderrahim, N. (2012) Trends in Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Behaviors. DHS Comparative Reports, ICF International, Calverton.
[22]	ICF Macro and National Population Commission (NPC) (2009) Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2008. National Population Commission & ICF Macro, Abuja.
[23]	Enuameh, Y., Boamah, E., Nettey, O.E., Tawiah, C., Manu, A., Sulemana, A., Zandoh, C., Adjei, G., Mahama, E., Gyaase, S., Afari-Asiedu, S. and Owusu-Agyei, S. (2012) Improving Family Planning Service Delivery to Adolescents in Ghana: Evidence from Rural Communities in Central Ghana. Measure Evaluation PRH Working Paper Series, USAID/Measure Evaluation PRH.
[24]	Enuameh, Y., White, S., Adjei, G., Abokyi, L., Owusu-Agyei, S. and Pearson, A. (2012) Perceived Facilitators and Barriers to Interventions aimed at Reducing Unintended Pregnancy among Adolescents in Low and Middle Income (Developing) Countries: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Evidence. Joanna Briggs Institute Library of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports (JBILSRIR), 10, 3338-3413.