Sexual and reproductive health services utilisation amongst in-school young people with disabilities in Ghana

Abstract

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.

Determinant Factors of Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Utilization among In-School Adolescents with Disability in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

“…Approximately around 17.2% (13.7-20.5%) of the inschool adolescents with disability utilized voluntary counselling and testing for HIV services. This finding was similar to a study conducted in Ghana among in-school young people with disabilities which said that about 17.1% of students reported having ever tested for HIV [20] but lower than the study conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which was 46% of people with disabilities (PWD) had been tested for HIV [16]. The difference may be due to this study conducted among in-school adolescents with disability but that one was among people with disabilities.…”

“…In this study, male in-school adolescents with disability were two times more likely to utilize sexual and reproductive services when compared with female adolescents with disability. But, from the finding of a study conducted in Ghana, there was no difference between male and female adolescents with disability in the utilization of SRH services [ 20 ]. The discrepancy may be due to socioeconomics and cultural difference.…”

Achieving universal reproductive health coverage for deaf women in Ghana: an explanatory study of knowledge of contraceptive methods, pregnancy and safe abortion practices

“…Several studies have explored the accessibility of healthcare and reproductive health services to persons with disabilities [ 47 – 54 ]. A qualitative study by Gartrell et al about the reproductive health rights of Cambodian women with disabilities identified challenges encountered by these women when accessing reproductive health services, such as physical restrictions, limited access to information and communication and financial barriers [ 53 ].…”

“…A similar qualitative study by Burke et al in Senegal discovered formidable barriers to access to health care such as finance, negative attitudes and the lack of health facilities in communities that restrict access to services [ 51 ]. Studies from Ghana have also identified limited access to information, lack of finance, negative attitudes and lack of communication as challenges that restrict access to SRH services to women with disabilities, such as those with visual impairment [ 47 , 48 ] and deafness [ 43 – 45 ]. Deaf women are also at risk of not being able to access SRH information due to illiteracy and the inability of health professionals to communicate with them using sign language [ 43 , 45 ].…”

Young Nursing and Medical Students’ Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Contraceptive Methods

“…The youth age group of 18-25 is considered at particular risk for experiencing adverse consequences such as sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies, or abortions [3][4][5][6]. According to previous research, the highest prevalence of sexually transmitted infections is found in the under-25 age group, as well as the highest rate of voluntary termination of pregnancy [7][8][9].…”