Sexual and reproductive health services utilisation amongst in-school young people with disabilities in Ghana
Background: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of young people including those with disabilities is a major public health concern globally. However, available evidence on their use of sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS) is inconsistent. Objective: This study investigated utilisation of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2021-03-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Disability |
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| Online Access: | https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/671 |
| _version_ | 1817984658017615872 |
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| author | Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme |
| author_facet | Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme |
| author_sort | Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of young people including those with disabilities is a major public health concern globally. However, available evidence on their use of sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS) is inconsistent.
Objective: This study investigated utilisation of SRHS amongst the in-school young people with disabilities (YPWDs) in Ghana using the healthcare utilisation model.
Methods: Guided by the cross-sectional study design, a questionnaire was used to obtain data from 2114 blind and deaf pupils or students in the age group 10-24 years, sampled from 15 purposively selected special schools for the deaf and the blind in Ghana.
Results: About seven out of every 10 respondents had ever utilised SRHS. The proportion was higher amongst the males (67.8%) compared with the females (62.8%). Young persons with disabilities in the coastal (OR = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.01–0.22) and middle (OR = 0.06, 95% CI = 0.01–0.44) zones were less likely to have ever utilised SRHS compared with those in the northern ecological zone. The blind pupils or students were more likely to have ever utilised SRHS than the deaf (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.26–3.11).
Conclusions: Generally, SRHS utilisation amongst the in-school YPWDs in Ghana is high but significantly associated with some predisposing, need and enabling or disabling factors. This underscores the need for policymakers to consider in-school YPWDs as a heterogeneous group in the design and implementation of SRHS programmes. The Ghana Education Service in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service should adopt appropriate pragmatic measures and targeted interventions in the special schools to address the SRH needs of the pupils or students. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T23:47:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d81d640d42a74a1d93378333312dab22 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-9170 2226-7220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T23:47:15Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Disability |
| spelling | doaj.art-d81d640d42a74a1d93378333312dab222022-12-22T02:24:15ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Disability2223-91702226-72202021-03-01100e1e910.4102/ajod.v10i0.671249Sexual and reproductive health services utilisation amongst in-school young people with disabilities in GhanaAkwasi Kumi-Kyereme0Department of Population and Health, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape CoastBackground: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of young people including those with disabilities is a major public health concern globally. However, available evidence on their use of sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS) is inconsistent. Objective: This study investigated utilisation of SRHS amongst the in-school young people with disabilities (YPWDs) in Ghana using the healthcare utilisation model. Methods: Guided by the cross-sectional study design, a questionnaire was used to obtain data from 2114 blind and deaf pupils or students in the age group 10-24 years, sampled from 15 purposively selected special schools for the deaf and the blind in Ghana. Results: About seven out of every 10 respondents had ever utilised SRHS. The proportion was higher amongst the males (67.8%) compared with the females (62.8%). Young persons with disabilities in the coastal (OR = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.01–0.22) and middle (OR = 0.06, 95% CI = 0.01–0.44) zones were less likely to have ever utilised SRHS compared with those in the northern ecological zone. The blind pupils or students were more likely to have ever utilised SRHS than the deaf (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.26–3.11). Conclusions: Generally, SRHS utilisation amongst the in-school YPWDs in Ghana is high but significantly associated with some predisposing, need and enabling or disabling factors. This underscores the need for policymakers to consider in-school YPWDs as a heterogeneous group in the design and implementation of SRHS programmes. The Ghana Education Service in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service should adopt appropriate pragmatic measures and targeted interventions in the special schools to address the SRH needs of the pupils or students.https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/671sexual and reproductive health servicesyoung peopledisabilitiesghanautilisation |
| spellingShingle | Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme Sexual and reproductive health services utilisation amongst in-school young people with disabilities in Ghana African Journal of Disability sexual and reproductive health services young people disabilities ghana utilisation |
| title | Sexual and reproductive health services utilisation amongst in-school young people with disabilities in Ghana |
| title_full | Sexual and reproductive health services utilisation amongst in-school young people with disabilities in Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Sexual and reproductive health services utilisation amongst in-school young people with disabilities in Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual and reproductive health services utilisation amongst in-school young people with disabilities in Ghana |
| title_short | Sexual and reproductive health services utilisation amongst in-school young people with disabilities in Ghana |
| title_sort | sexual and reproductive health services utilisation amongst in school young people with disabilities in ghana |
| topic | sexual and reproductive health services young people disabilities ghana utilisation |
| url | https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/671 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT akwasikumikyereme sexualandreproductivehealthservicesutilisationamongstinschoolyoungpeoplewithdisabilitiesinghana |