Impact of policies and programmes for addressing adolescent pregnancy in Ghana
- Publication Type:
- Thesis
- Issue Date:
- 2022
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In Ghana, national policies and programmes for reducing adolescent pregnancy have been developed over the past 20 years in order to address its unacceptably high rates. Despite this, adolescent pregnancy rates remain high in the country, making it difficult to understand the impact of the policies and programmes. Meanwhile, there is no empirical evidence on the impact of policies and programmes on adolescent pregnancy in Ghana. The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of policies and programmes for addressing adolescent pregnancy in Ghana.
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This doctoral research derives its theoretical approach from implementation science. Multiple research approaches involving quantitative and qualitative research methods were adopted to achieve the purpose of the research. The quantitative approach involved analyses of secondary data from 32 countries in sub-Saharan Africa to examine the prevalence of first adolescent pregnancy and its associated factors. The qualitative approaches involved a scoping review of national policies for pregnancy prevention in Anglophone sub-Saharan African countries and interviews with health and education professionals, grassroots workers, and adolescent girls in Ghana.
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The results from the analyses of secondary data showed that several factors are associated with first adolescent pregnancy. These factors were considered as the key focus of the national policies for pregnancy prevention from the findings of the scoping review. The health and education professionals and grassroots workers had low level of awareness and knowledge of policies. By contrast, most could demonstrate awareness of relevant programmes and provide a detailed description of their implementation and activities carried out under each programme. Interviews with health and education professionals and grassroots workers showed key perceived barriers and facilitators that influence the implementation of policies and programmes. Focus group discussions with adolescent girls also showed some key barriers and facilitators to access and use of pregnancy prevention information and services.
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The study findings show that policies and programmes aimed at reducing adolescent pregnancy should focus on addressing the barriers towards implementation and factors which put adolescent girls at risk of pregnancy. The strengthening of existing legal frameworks on adolescent sexual and reproductive health can help address the risk factors for adolescent pregnancy. In the long term, understanding the complexities that underpin predictors of adolescent pregnancy and improve the implementation of policies will help to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellbeing for all at all ages.
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