Role-players in abortion decision-making in the Accra Metropolis, Ghana

BACKGROUND: Making the final decision to terminate a pregnancy can be influenced by different circumstances involving various individuals. This paper describes the key players involved in the decision-making process regarding abortions among women who elected to undergo an induced abortion in a cosmopolitan urban setting in Ghana. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional mixed method study was conducted between January and December 2011. A total of 401 women with records in abortion logbooks were selected for an interviewer-administered questionnaire and an in-depth interview. Descriptive and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to assess the quantitative data, and a thematic analysis was applied to the qualitative data. RESULTS: The findings of the study reveal that pregnant individuals, mothers of abortion-seekers, male partners, and “Others” (for example, friends, employers) were instrumental in making a decision to terminate unplanned/unwanted pregnancies. Several key factors influenced the decision-making processes, including aversion from the men responsible for the pregnancy, concerns about abnormalities/deformities in future births due to unprofessionally conducted abortions, and economic considerations. CONCLUSION: A number of individuals, such as friends, mothers, and male partners, influence the decision-making process regarding abortion among the participants of the study. Various targeted messages are needed for the various participants in the decision

Contraceptive Use among Basic School Pupils in Ghana: A Case Study of a Municipality

Background. Ghana over the years strived to improve contraceptive services for young people through various policies and programs. Despite these efforts, contraceptive use among young people remains a challenge. In this study, contraceptive use among basic school pupils in a Ghanaian municipality was explored to inform policy and program decisions. Methods. The research design was a cross-sectional and mixed-method survey involving four hundred and twenty-seven (427) respondents randomly selected from four hundred and eleven (411) basic schools (102 from private and 309 from public basic schools) within Effutu Municipality of Ghana. Results. Basic school pupils in Ghana are generally sexually active but have high unmet needs for modern contraception due to sociocultural barriers, stigma, and misconceptions. Awareness and use are however more prevalent among junior high school pupils compared to those at the primary levels. Pupils who received contraceptive education from parents/guardians were, however, more likely to use modern contraceptives consistently than their counterparts who do not. Conclusions. Because young people in basic schools are becoming sexually active, there is a need for formalized contraceptive education in basic schools for correct information and education

Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality

Objectives: We examined teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraception by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality. Methods: This was an explorative, analytical cross-sectional study using the mixed-method approach. Participants comprised 183 public and private basic school teachers and 20 school health coordinators in the study area. The statistical tests carried out were in two folds. Quantitative data were analyzed with a statistical package for social sciences version 20 to generate tables. A logistic regression model was used to examine associations between the predictor and the binary response variables. Adjusted odds ratio accounted for other predictor variables in the model. For the qualitative data, recorded interviews were transcribed and content analysis was done to identify themes, subthemes, and results presented as participants’ direct quotations/paraphrased statements. Knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes were assessed using 3-Likert scale type questions developed by the author. Results: Participants’ sociodemographic characteristics were associated with perceptions and attitudes toward contraception in basic schools. At 95% confidence intervals, the p -values were not significant for any of the variables tested. However, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) showed positive perceptions among participants aged 35–39 (aOR = 7.24; p  = 0.35), women (aOR = 4.22; p  = 0.25), higher educated (aOR = 4.32; p  = 0.56), work experience between 16 and 20 years (aOR = 6.65; p  = 0.96), four or more children (aOR = 6.35; p  = 0.96); divorcee (aOR = 10.12; p  = 2.92); intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) (aOR = 5.02; p  = 2.43); or condoms users (aOR = 7.09; p  = 0.32). Negative perceptions were noted among affiliates of other religions compared to Christians (aOR = 0.19; p  = 0.01) and subject teachers (aOR = 0.39; p  = 0.01). Participants’ perceptions were directly influenced by attitudes toward contraception and knowledge ( p  = 0.081). The qualitative findings showed mixed feelings about contraceptive education in basic schools. Conclusions: Basic school teachers have challenges with contraceptive education which have implications for comprehensive sex education in Ghanaian basic schools. We recommend a similar study among parents of the pupils and a nationwide study to examine this concept further

Institutional support for breastfeeding in Ghana: a case study of University of Education, Winneba

Abstract Objectives This study explored institutional support for breastfeeding student-mothers in the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. It also examined challenges associated with combining academic work with breastfeeding and childcare. Results Findings show that although the University as an institution does not have any formal system in place to support breastfeeding among student-mothers, it does follow the provisions made for breastfeeding under the maternity protection section of the labor Act (Act, 651) for its employees. Consequently, breastfeeding student mothers use under trees, lobbies, and Junior Common Rooms of on-campus halls of residence as lactation sites which exposes their babies to risk of infection. The absence of support put student-mothers through stress, divided attention, and conflicting responsibilities between academic work and childcare. Further studies to investigate the situation on other university campuses are recommended to promote policy and interventions on breastfeeding and childcare in tertiary institutions in Ghana to enable students maintain a balance between breastfeeding, childcare and academic work

Use and discontinuation of intrauterine contraceptive device in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Abstract Background The intrauterine contraceptive device is one of the modern long-acting and reversible contraception that is very safe and effective. Yet, less than 2 % of women are using intrauterine devices in Ghana. This study therefore explored the experiences and barriers to intrauterine contraceptive device use and discontinuation in Greater Accra Region, Ghana. Methods Intrauterine contraceptive device users and providers were purposively selected from eight private family planning clinics in the Greater Accra Region. Semi-structured interview guides were used for in-depth interviews during data collection. The interviews were audio-taped to ascertain accurate accounts of the interviews and recordings replayed for analytical responses. Field assistants transcribed the interviews conducted themselves and read through the transcripts produced twice to increase familiarity with the dataset. A list of code labels was created and a series of categories for the main themes that emerged from the transcripts were developed. The transcribed data was organized, coded and manually thematically analysed in word. Study results were presented in tables and quotes from respondents. Results Results showed that key motivations for intrauterine contraceptive device use include effectiveness, benefits, and efficacy of the device, fertility regulation, peace of mind, contraceptive method switching, health provider effects, desire for long-acting contraceptive method, and partner characteristics. Intrauterine contraceptive device discontinuation was due to bleeding irregularities, vaginal infections, desire to increase fertility, physical features of the intrauterine device, and partner disapproval of use. Other reasons in both cases pertained to non-hormonal aspects of the intrauterine device, partner characteristics, and provider encouragement and influence. Conclusions Several factors influence the use and discontinuation of intrauterine device in Ghana. Comprehensive contraceptive counselling on the intrauterine device is essential in promoting uptake and knowledge of the intrauterine device at the health facility level. Various targeted messages are also needed to dispel misconceptions at the community level

sj-sav-1-smo-10.1177_20503121231200414 – Supplemental material for Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality

sj-sav-1-smo-10.1177_20503121231200414 for Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality by Fred Yao Gbagbo, Keziah Love Mensah and Josephine Akosua Gbagbo in SAGE Open Medicine</p

sj-docx-3-smo-10.1177_20503121231200414 – Supplemental material for Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality

Supplemental material, sj-docx-3-smo-10.1177_20503121231200414 for Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality by Fred Yao Gbagbo, Keziah Love Mensah and Josephine Akosua Gbagbo in SAGE Open Medicine</p

Towards prevention of new COVID-19 infections in institutions of higher education: factors influencing compliance with mask-wearing among public university students in Ghana

Abstract Background Ghana’s mask-wearing compliance with COVID-19 prevention protocols has not been as impressive among the general population. In this study, we examined factors influencing compliance with mask-wearing among public university students in Ghana to make recommendations for the prevention of new COVID-19 infections in public universities. Methods We conducted this Census in a public university in Ghana between January and December 2022. The study design was an exploratory-cross-sectional and online survey. Structured questionnaires developed by the authors were used to collect data from 3,272 students. Data were analyzed with Jeffreys’s Amazing Statistics Program (JASP). Frequency distributions were used to summarize the data into tables and graphs whilst logistic regression analysis was done to examine the factors influencing compliance with mask-wearing among participants as well as their mask-wearing behaviors in school. Results Compliance with mask-wearing measures was high with 85.9% of the students wearing a nose mask always or often. Agreeing that the reusable masks do not last long was associated with a reduced chance of non-compliance (OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.57, 0.86). However, agreeing with some challenges was associated with increased chances of non-compliance. These included concerns that it is boring to mask after wearing makeup or having a haircut (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.37, 2.14), and that masking is burdensome because it has to be removed when talking (OR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.01, 1.57), and that it is difficult to hear while masked (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.79). Conclusion Cost-benefit analyses, opinions about one’s look, and communication difficulties are the key factors influencing students’ non-compliance with mask-wearing regulations. To encourage student compliance with mask-wearing regulations at Ghana’s public universities, we recommend innovation in nose mask manufacture

sj-doc-2-smo-10.1177_20503121231200414 – Supplemental material for Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality

Supplemental material, sj-doc-2-smo-10.1177_20503121231200414 for Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality by Fred Yao Gbagbo, Keziah Love Mensah and Josephine Akosua Gbagbo in SAGE Open Medicine</p

sj-docx-6-smo-10.1177_20503121231200414 – Supplemental material for Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality

Supplemental material, sj-docx-6-smo-10.1177_20503121231200414 for Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality by Fred Yao Gbagbo, Keziah Love Mensah and Josephine Akosua Gbagbo in SAGE Open Medicine</p