ATTITUDES AND BARRIERS TOWARDS ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY AND ABORTION CARE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF GHANA

Abstract

The adolescence period is generally perceived as being healthy, however, most adolescents in the Tamale Metropolisgo through this period with health challenges such as sexual and reproductive problems and unsafe abortion. This study aimed to determine the attitude and barriers toward Adolescent Sexuality and abortion in the Tamale Metropolis. A descriptive cross-sectional design with a sample size of 246 adolescents from a Senior High School within the Tamale metropolis. A structured questionnaire wasused for the data collection and data was analyzed using Excel and SPSS version 21. Frequencies and percentages were used in the presentation of the results. More than half of the adolescents were females (58.1%) and between the ages of 16-19 (77.2%). Most were single (81.3%) while 18.7% were in a relationship. About 43.1% of adolescents have had sex before. Most adolescents agreed that their culture does not support abortion. The majority of the adolescents showed a positive attitude towards adolescent sexuality. The barriers encountered by the adolescents in seeking abortion services were the dangers involved in abortion, culture, lack of confidentiality and lack of support person. This study emphasized the need to strongly enforce community-wide promotional activities, particularly those involving adolescents in other to educate them on ways of overcoming the barriers of Adolescent Sexuality and abortion care.