"Ab-what? Abstain!"

Team member Louis, from Upper East Ghana, talking to the
students of Savelugu Senior High 

Issues of sexual and reproductive health have become a global concern, this is a result of the low education of youth in respect to sexual health education. In Ghana, sexual health has until recent times not received much attention from the public, even in our educational institutions. This has led to high incidences of sexual health related issues, especially among the youth in the country.

What then is sexual reproductive health? Sexual reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system. It implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so.

Louis at the Senior High School

In Ghana, perspectives on sexual reproductive health provides the latest peer-reviewed policy, relevant research and analysis on sexual reproductive health on teenage pregnancy risk, contraceptives and others.

The lack of understanding of contraceptives and safe sex is widespread throughout the country, due to the low education of the youth in respect to sexual health. Contraceptives are therefore an agent or device intended to prevent conception. Modern contraceptives use is uncommon, with more than one third of women reported ever using abstinence, condoms, injectable and pills were the most commonly reported modern methods ever used. How can one maintain sexual and reproductive health? People need access to accurate information and acceptable contraceptives method of their choice. Many organisations such as the UNDP/UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, WORLD BANK and others have issued new selected contraceptives recommendations for use. On the 14 December 2016, this publication was one of WHO’s evidence based guidance documents to support and strengthen national contraceptives/family planning programmes.

Teenage pregnancy is another great factor that has become a global issue in the country, this is as a result of the poor education of the youth in respect to sexual health. In Ghana, teenage pregnancy has not received much attention from the public and even in our educational institutions. Teenage pregnancy is a pregnancy in female age between 13-19 which is understood to occur in a girl who hasn’t completed her core education, secondary school, or no marketable skills. All these issues arise due to lack of parental care, broken homes, peer influence, financial difficulties etc. In Ghana, this issue rises every day and young girls are victims of this. There is not any curriculum in the senior high level to educate this young girls on how to prevent themselves from this social act. Teenage pregnancy has led to numerous abortion in the country were many lives has been lost. Abortion rates drop in more developing countries but fail to improve in developing countries.

Team Savelugu after their presentation at the school

In comparison, 15-24-year old’s in the UK experience around two thirds of all STI diagnosed within medical clinics. Similar to Ghana, this is due to the lack of sexual health education in schools. The government aims to improve sexual health and wellbeing to the whole population, and providing a lasting education plan that focuses completely on the sexual and reproductive health. To do this, there must be a reduction on inequalities and growth of sexual health outcomes such as, building an honest and open culture where everyone can make informed and responsible choices about relationships and sex. Also, recognise that sexual ill health can affect all parts of society. Comparatively to the Ghanaian government, the UK have focused more on sexual health matters, and from April 2013, the commissioning of sexual health services changed. Significant progress has already been made in improving sexual health. Teenage pregnancy rates have fallen to their lowest levels since records began. Access to services have been improved through the expansion and integration of service delivery outside of specialist services, particularly in the common and general practice. Comparing the difference of sexual health education from the UK to Ghana shows a significant gap, everyone must work together to achieve the global ambition to improve sexual and reproductive health and make a real difference to the lives of others.

On the 12 of May 2016, new estimates, published today in the lancet, indicate that the induced abortion rates have declined significantly in develop countries between 1990 and 2014 but not in developing countries such as Ghana. Many organisations are putting on much effort to help curb this problem. Mr Nuuri-Teg a sexual educator advises the youth especially girls to try as much as possible to seek information on sexual related issues to avoid teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS.

Overall, much attention needs to be put on to help curb this sexual and reproductive issues in the country.  The government can create a platform for young girls in the remote villages to be educated on their sexual and reproductive health and also on how to abstain from them.