PhD defence Augustina Dechegme Achigibah

Keywords: Adolescents, Comprehensive Sexuality Education, Ghana, Teenage Pregnancy

"The endpoint of it is abstinence: Determinants of adoption and implementation of reproductive health education in Ghana"

Adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health challenges are of global public health concern, and sexuality education has an important role to play in addressing these negative sexual health outcomes. Yet in most Sub-Saharan African countries, including Ghana, implementation of sexuality education is limited. 

Ghana published national comprehensive sexuality education guidelines in 2018 to integrate CSE into the curricula of basic and senior high schools. However, the guideline was withdrawn in 2019 as a result of a nationwide backlash led by religious leaders. A new guideline named ‘Reproductive Health Education’ was later developed following a nationwide consultation with stakeholders. 

The backlash in 2019 showed that a successful adoption and implementation of sexuality education would require the support of all relevant stakeholders, including parents, religious leaders, and teachers. This dissertation, therefore, assessed the determinants of religious leaders’ parents and teachers’ intentions to support the adoption and implementation of reproductive health education in Ghana. Findings of the dissertation could inform the design of strategies for the successful adoption and implementation of reproductive health programmes. 

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