EFFECTS OF THE GHANA ADOLESCENT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH (GhARH) PROJECT ON ADOLESCENTS’ KNOWLEDGE AND ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES IN THE ASUNAFO SOUTH DISTRICT

Abstract

In the world and Ghana in particular, poor knowledge and access to reproductive health services (RHS) is a major public health issue. The Ghana Adolescent Reproductive Health (GhARH) project is an intervention to improve adolescents’ knowledge and access to RHS. However, little evidence exists to show clearly how the project has yielded results in the Asunafo South District. The study assessed effects of the project on adolescents’ knowledge and access to RHS and the socio cultural and health system factors that influence knowledge and access to services. The study employed an explanatory mixed method approach. The quantitative data was collected from 392 JHS respondents using questionnaires and the qualitative data was collected from 31 respondents using interview guides. The quantitative data was analyzed using both univariate and bivariate analysis but the qualitative data was analyzed manually using thematic analysis. The quantitative results revealed that adolescents in the beneficiary community had higher knowledge on pills, injectables, implants, but lower knowledge on antenatal and postnatal services, compared to adolescents in the non-beneficiary community. Services such as injectables, implants, abortion services were significantly available, affordable and acceptable in the beneficiary community, but, were not accessible. Also, adolescents in the beneficiary community significantly utilized condoms, injectables, menstrual services. The qualitative results suggested that, socio-cultural and health system factors such as presence of social club, education and staff training promote adolescents’ knowledge and access to services. However, religious bigotry, parental intolerance and bad attitude of health workers were found to inhibit knowledge and access to services. It was concluded that the project has improve knowledge and access to some services. It was recommended that policy makers should pay attention to post pregnancy services, facility location and the views of parents, religious leaders in subsequent project design and implementation.