Parent Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Information Communication in Ghana

Adolescents need to make informed SRH decisions which may lead to healthy sexual behaviours. Although adolescents have a great need for information regarding sexual and reproductive health, several factors may constrain their parents from openly communicating with them on the topic. This is particularly challenging in the Ghanaian setting, due to its unique socio-cultural and religious context. Considering the adolescent sexual and reproductive health challenges in Ghana, an intervention such as a sexual and reproductive health information communication intervention become an important means of optimizing positive sexual and reproductive health outcomes among adolescents. There is documented evidence of the value of parent-adolescent sexual and reproductive health information communication interventions in improving communication between parents and adolescents. However, it appears there has been insufficient focus on this.

The aim of this study was to explore SRH information communication interventions to inform the adaptation of a culturally sensitive SRH information communication intervention to enhance parent-adolescent communication skills, leading to healthy and safe SRH behaviour among adolescents in Ghana.

This was an explanatory sequential mixed method study. It began with quantitative data collection, through a systematic review of sexual and reproductive health information communication interventions in lower- and middle-income countries. Key findings were used to develop an interview guide for qualitative data collection in phase 2. Results from the systematic review and the qualitative study were integrated to understand how a culturally sensitive SRH information communication intervention can be adapted in the Ghanaian context. The final phase was the adaptation of a culturally sensitive parent-adolescent sexual and reproductive health information communication intervention.

Findings from the systematic review, qualitative and mixed method phases formed the basis of adaptation of a culturally sensitive sexual and reproductive health information communication intervention. The adapted intervention (ɛtwene), which is yet to be implemented, takes into account the following components: (1) experts to deliver the intervention (2) method of delivery of the intervention (3) venue or place of intervention delivery (4) lessons on SRH information (5) lessons on motivation to communicate SRH information (6) lessons on skills to communicate SRH information. The name of the intervention is ‘3twene’, which means bridge.