KNOWLEDGE, ACCESS AND UTILISATION OF SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AMONG SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE SUNYANI WEST MUNICIPALITY, GHANA

Abstract

Poor uptake of SRH services among adolescents affect the progress of reaching universal access to SRH services in Ghana. This study sought to assess adolescents’ knowledge, access and use of SRH services in the Sunyani West Municipality. An analytical cross-sectional design was adopted with a mixed-method approach. Questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data through simple random sampling techniques by balloting. Both Focus Group Discussion and Key Informant Interview guides were used to collect qualitative data using purposive sampling techniques to select participants. Quantitative data were entered into Microsoft office Excel spreadsheet and analyzed using STATA version 12.1 and presented descriptively in tables and charts. Pearson Chi-square (X 2 ) test was done to establish association between key independent variables and access to and utilization of SRHS at a significant level of 5% (p≤ 0.05). Also, statistically associated factors were further subjected into multivariate logistic regression. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis procedure to help identify patterns of themes and sub-themes. The findings revealed that awareness level was high (83.7%). Knowledge level was averagely high (51.2%) and slightly over half (59%) had ever accessed SRHS. About 70.5% have ever used SRH service, and factors affecting access to and utilization of SRH service were restrictive school rules (42.7%), shyness (67.7%), and financial difficulty (57.5%). Significantly associated factors were relationship status, level of education, age, and frequency of visits by closed associates. Conclusively, awareness was almost universal, and knowledge level, access to and utilization were all above average. Ghana Health Service and Ghana Education Service should introduce sexual and reproductive health education in the curriculum of schools to improve on adolescents’ access to and use of SRHS.