Exploring the Causes of Change in Adolescent Girls’ Sexual Behaviour in Begoro, Ghana

Abstract

There is a changing trend in adolescent girls' sexual and reproductive behaviour in Ghana. However, contemporary perspectives on adolescent girls' sexual behaviours are largely missing hence this study. Thematic analysis of data collected through in-depth interviews with adolescent girls and community members as well as focus group discussions with adolescent boys identified several factors accounting for the changes in adolescent girls' sexual and reproductive behaviour. These factors include changes in girls' attitudes to traditional practices, diversity in the agents of socialization as well as the age at menarche. This has resulted in a clash of value system between girls' sexual behaviours and that of the elderly. Thus, the social context in which girls are experiencing sexual and reproductive life in Ghana is changing and this must be taken into consideration when designing any intervention to help adolescent girls become resilient in their sexual and reproductive lives. Keywords: adolescent girls, sexual behaviour, social change, Ghana RésuméIl existe une tendance à l'évolution des comportements sexuels et de la reproduction chez les adolescentes au Ghana. Cependant, les perspectives contemporaines sur les comportements sexuels des adolescentes sont en grande partie manquantes, d'où cette étude. L'analyse thématique des données recueillies grâce à des entretiens approfondis avec des adolescentes et des membres de la communauté, ainsi que des discussions de groupes cibles avec des garçons adolescents ont identifié plusieurs facteurs qui expliquent les changements dans les comportements sexuels et de la reproduction chez les adolescentes. Ces facteurs incluaient des changements dans l'attitude des filles à l'égard des pratiques traditionnelles, la diversité chez les agents de la socialisation ainsi que l'âge de la ménarche. Cela a entraîné un choc de système de valeurs entre les comportements sexuels des filles et celui des personnes âgées. Ainsi, le contexte social dans lequel les filles connaissent une vie sexuelle et de la reproduction au Ghana évolue et cela doit être pris en compte lors de la conception d'une intervention pour aider les adolescentes à devenir résilientes dans leur vie sexuelle et de la reproduction. (Afr J Reprod Health 2017; 21[2]: 55-63).

Passing as “Normal”: Adolescent Girls’ Strategies for Escaping Stigma of Premarital Sex and Childbearing in Ghana

“…The long wait between puberty and marriage has contributed to the increasing number of adolescents having sex and bearing children out of wedlock (Agunbiade, 2014; Gyan, 2017; Moloney, Hunt, Joe-Laidler, & MacKenzie, 2011; Zwang & Garenne, 2008). Adolescents are postponing age at marriage because of factors such as urbanization, migration, and formal education (Addai, 2000; Awusabo-Asare, Abane, & Kumi-Kyereme, 2004; Biddlecom, Gregory, Lloyd, & Mensch, 2008; Glover et al, 2003; Gyan, 2017). Increasingly, more adolescents are postponing the age at marriage; however, the age at first sex remains low.…”

Sexual behaviors and seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV among hill tribe youths of Northern Thailand

“…A study on culture and sexual behaviors among Iranian and New Zealand women found that sexual behaviors and sexual desire and pleasure were related to community culture, beliefs and past experiences regarding sexual activities [44]. A change in the social context or diversity of socialization led to a change in risky behaviors and sexual behaviors among youths in Ghana [45]. Moreover, a study by Mpondo et al [46] reported that apart from culture, parenting styles and school curriculum affected risk behaviors, including sexual behaviors, of youths.…”