Knowledge and awareness of policies and programmes to reduce adolescent pregnancy in Ghana: a qualitative study among key stakeholders

Reproductive Health

Research

Fiona Brooks¹  Lin Perry²  Bright Opoku Ahinkorah³  Melissa Kang⁴ 

[1] Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences/Te Ara Hauora Ā Pūtaiao, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand;School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia;School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia;School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia;Specialty of General Practice, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia;

关键词: Adolescents;    Ghana;    Policy;    Pregnancy;    Programmes;    Sexual and reproductive health;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12978-023-01672-2

 received in 2022-03-07, accepted in 2023-08-17,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionAdolescent sexual and reproductive health continues to be a major public health issue in low-and middle-income countries. While many countries have policies aimed at reducing adolescent pregnancy, evidence of their impact is unclear. This study sought to explore the knowledge and awareness of policies and programmes aimed at reducing adolescent pregnancy among health and education professionals and grassroot workers in Ghana.MethodsWe employed a cross-sectional, qualitative study design involving semi-structured interviews with 30 key informants (health and education professionals and grassroot workers) in the Central Region of Ghana. We also conducted a desktop review of policies aimed at reducing adolescent pregnancy in Ghana. We used content analysis to analyse the data.ResultsEight of the 30 participants demonstrated awareness of policies aimed at reducing adolescent pregnancy but only two could elaborate on this. By contrast, 19 of the 30 participants were aware of relevant programmes and provided detailed description of their implementation and activities carried out under each programme. Despite participants’ low policy awareness and knowledge, their descriptions of the activities carried out under each programme aligned with the strategies and activities of the policies mentioned, as evident from the desktop review of the policies.ConclusionGreater engagement of stakeholders in future policy development should increase policy awareness. Dissemination of policy content through community-based media channels and in local languages should promote and facilitate stakeholder engagement, which in turn should increase effective policy implementation with subsequent reduction of adolescent pregnancy.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 2