Identifying promising or priority effective adolescent, sexual and reproductive health interventions in Ghana: what frameworks should guide the selection of interventions?

Abstract

Background: Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) is an integral part of the global health agenda. It is strongly featured in the universal health coverage (UHC) agenda of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The need to expand ASRH services to accelerate progress on UHC is urgent in Africa, compared to other regions, given its youthful population and unmet ASRH needs. Limited access to ASRH services increases the risk and vulnerability of adolescents to poor health outcomes such as unintended pregnancies, high adolescent birth rate, poor birth outcomes, high maternal and neonatal mortalities and high exposure to sexually transmitted infections. The unavailability and inaccessibility of ASRH interventions to adolescents and young adults in most African countries, including Ghana, arise from several limitations, including inadequate funding of interventions, cultural barriers and norms, lack of education, and inadequate supplies of ASRH services and commodities, among others. However, gains from investments in ASRH interventions, especially following the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, highlight the importance of identifying and prioritising adequate funding for effective ASRH interventions. This paper identifies priority ASRH interventions that can potentially advance the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescents in Ghana to accelerate progress towards UHC.

Methods: Qualitative descriptive methods, combining literature review and stakeholder engagement, were used for this study. A literature review complemented by stakeholder engagement ensured the listing, ranking and validation of interventions.

Results: Adapting an established framework designed by the West African Health Organization (WAHO) through stakeholders' engagement process, the paper identifies four of seven priority interventions ranked and validated by stakeholders for addressing the SRH needs of adolescents in Ghana. Consistent with the literature, several interventions exist to address ASRH needs. The most effective priority or promising four interventions in Ghana, according to stakeholders, include adolescent health clubs programmes, girls' empowerment programmes through comprehensive sexuality education, national capacity-building programmes to deliver high-quality integrated family planning and comprehensive maternal health services, and electronic health (eHealth)/digital health programmes.

Conclusion: Identifying effective priority interventions for addressing the SRH needs of adolescents is a consultative process facilitated by proven and valid frameworks adapted to align with specific country contexts.