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Exploring sexual and reproductive health knowledge among adolescents in the Ghanaian society a situational study of Komenda community in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem (KEEA) municipality in the central region of Ghana.

Charles Owusu-Aduomi Botchweya, Francis Acquahb, Richmond Opokuc, Agartha Afful Boatengd, Lawrencia Aggrey-Bluweye

Introduction: Sexual and Reproductive Health is very critical in all aspects of all Homo sapiens including their physical, mental, social, economic and emotional well-being. Of much important and concern is that of the adolescents who are globally said to be the most vulnerable group to this aspect of health. Aim: This study was designed to explore the sexual and reproductive health knowledge of adolescents in the Central Region of Ghana with Komenda as the case study. Methodology: A mixed method with a case study design was adopted through quantitative survey and focus group discussions among 95 adolescents in the Komenda community. Results and discussion: The findings indicated that the knowledge of adolescents in Komenda community on sexual and reproductive health was generally poor. Religion and culture were found to be the major cause of poor sexual and reproductive health knowledge among these adolescents. Similarly, schools were found to be the most prominent source and most preferred place that adolescents in the study will want to learn about sexual and reproductive health from. As to who they will prefer to discuss their sexual and reproductive health issues with, it was found to be relative thus depends on the type of issue at hand and the prevailing conditions surrounding it. The study equally identified that poor sexual and reproductive health was found to be very intense and inimical to the long term well-being of the adolescents and the family. Recommendation: The study recommends that sexual and reproductive health programmes or projects by government and other stakeholders be designed to overcome both cultural and religious barriers. Additionally, future researches to investigate other areas of sexual and reproductive health and their relationship with socio-demographic characteristics of the adolescents should be embarked on. Conclusion: It is imperative to mention that for a successful implementation of sexual and reproductive health policies to yield fruition, religion, culture, knowledge and availability of sexual and reproductive health services should be seen as the building blocks.