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Articles 1 - 27 of 27
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Superstition That Enslaves Virgin Girls In Ghana: An Exploration Of The Origins, Evolution, And Practice Of Trokosi, Emmanuel Sarpong Owusu
The Superstition That Enslaves Virgin Girls In Ghana: An Exploration Of The Origins, Evolution, And Practice Of Trokosi, Emmanuel Sarpong Owusu
Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence
Trokosi is a religious practice in some parts of West Africa where young virgin girls are sent to fetish shrines to become sex slaves as part of rituals meant to prevent a communal calamity supposedly provoked by the transgressions of members of the girls’ family. This study offers additional insight into the concept, origins, evolution, and practice of trokosi, highlighting the cultural, socio-economic, and legal contexts of this practice in Ghana. This goal is achieved by reviewing pertinent literature and interviewing 10 participants: academics; activists; traditional leaders; and ordinary community members. The study establishes that trokosi, which is …
Introduction Of Dmpa-Sc Self-Injection In Ghana: A Feasibility And Acceptability Study Using Sayana® Press, Dela Nai, Patrick Aboagye, Kamil Fuseini, Elizabeth Tobey, Aparna Jain, Nora Maresh, Rebecca Fertziger
Introduction Of Dmpa-Sc Self-Injection In Ghana: A Feasibility And Acceptability Study Using Sayana® Press, Dela Nai, Patrick Aboagye, Kamil Fuseini, Elizabeth Tobey, Aparna Jain, Nora Maresh, Rebecca Fertziger
Reproductive Health
This research report describes results from an implementation science study that explored the feasibility and acceptability of administering depot medroxyprogesterone acetate-subcutaneous (DMPA-SC) among health-care providers and family planning (FP) clients in Ghana. DMPA-SC is an injectable contraceptive method that can be self-administered. The study, conducted by the Population Council through the USAID-funded Evidence Project in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, was implemented in rural, peri-urban, and urban areas of the Ashanti and Volta regions. A total of 150 health-care providers were trained to administer DMPA-SC and to train clients on self-injection. Clients assessed as being competent self-injected under the …
Explaining Positions On Same-Sex Sexuality In Conservative Societies : Do Cultural And Religious Precepts Matter?, Padmore Adusei Amoah, Razak Mohammed Gyasi, Joseph Edusei
Explaining Positions On Same-Sex Sexuality In Conservative Societies : Do Cultural And Religious Precepts Matter?, Padmore Adusei Amoah, Razak Mohammed Gyasi, Joseph Edusei
Dr. AMOAH Padmore Adusei
Studies show that social rituals, norms, and values shape perspectives on sexuality in many heteronormative societies. However, a handful of studies have explored the underlying factors and reasoning behind this assertion. Leaning on the theory of social integration, this study qualitatively explored how residents in Kumasi Metropolitan area in Ghana, explained their perception of same-sex sexuality given the profound religious and cultural milieu. Drawing on in-depth interviews and a group discussion, data were obtained from adults aged 18 to 59 years for the study. The findings supported the claim that same-sex sexuality is disapproved in conservative societies. Reasons and concerns …
Social Institutions And Same-Sex Sexuality : Attitudes, Perceptions And Prospective Rights And Freedoms For Non-Heterosexuals, Padmore Adusei Amoah, Razak Mohammed Gyasi
Social Institutions And Same-Sex Sexuality : Attitudes, Perceptions And Prospective Rights And Freedoms For Non-Heterosexuals, Padmore Adusei Amoah, Razak Mohammed Gyasi
Dr. AMOAH Padmore Adusei
Religious and cultural values have been used as a yardstick to disregard the rights and freedoms of people in non-normative sexual relationships in many African countries. However, little is known about the extent to which this assertion is empirically buttressed by public opinion in the Kumasi Metropolis in Ghana. Employing in-depth interviews and a focus group discussion, this study sought public opinion on how religious and cultural precepts informed attitudes and perception on same-sex sexuality. Twenty people who were aged 19 to 60 years participated in the study. The phenomenon of same-sex sexuality was expressively distasteful to majority of participants …
Social Institutions And Same-Sex Sexuality : Attitudes, Perceptions And Prospective Rights And Freedoms For Non-Heterosexuals, Padmore Adusei Amoah, Razak Mohammed Gyasi
Social Institutions And Same-Sex Sexuality : Attitudes, Perceptions And Prospective Rights And Freedoms For Non-Heterosexuals, Padmore Adusei Amoah, Razak Mohammed Gyasi
Mr. GYASI Razak Mohammed
Religious and cultural values have been used as a yardstick to disregard the rights and freedoms of people in non-normative sexual relationships in many African countries. However, little is known about the extent to which this assertion is empirically buttressed by public opinion in the Kumasi Metropolis in Ghana. Employing in-depth interviews and a focus group discussion, this study sought public opinion on how religious and cultural precepts informed attitudes and perception on same-sex sexuality. Twenty people who were aged 19 to 60 years participated in the study. The phenomenon of same-sex sexuality was expressively distasteful to majority of participants …
Explaining Positions On Same-Sex Sexuality In Conservative Societies : Do Cultural And Religious Precepts Matter?, Padmore Adusei Amoah, Razak Mohammed Gyasi, Joseph Edusei
Explaining Positions On Same-Sex Sexuality In Conservative Societies : Do Cultural And Religious Precepts Matter?, Padmore Adusei Amoah, Razak Mohammed Gyasi, Joseph Edusei
Mr. GYASI Razak Mohammed
Studies show that social rituals, norms, and values shape perspectives on sexuality in many heteronormative societies. However, a handful of studies have explored the underlying factors and reasoning behind this assertion. Leaning on the theory of social integration, this study qualitatively explored how residents in Kumasi Metropolitan area in Ghana, explained their perception of same-sex sexuality given the profound religious and cultural milieu. Drawing on in-depth interviews and a group discussion, data were obtained from adults aged 18 to 59 years for the study. The findings supported the claim that same-sex sexuality is disapproved in conservative societies. Reasons and concerns …
Acceptability And Feasibility Of Introducing Strengthened School-Based Sexual And Reproductive Health Information And Services In Accra, Ghana, Terence Adda-Balinia, Philip Teg-Nefaah Tabong, Maya Teye, Philip Baba Adongo, Placide Tapsoba, Harriet Birungi
Acceptability And Feasibility Of Introducing Strengthened School-Based Sexual And Reproductive Health Information And Services In Accra, Ghana, Terence Adda-Balinia, Philip Teg-Nefaah Tabong, Maya Teye, Philip Baba Adongo, Placide Tapsoba, Harriet Birungi
Reproductive Health
An initial study conducted by Population Council under the Strengthening Evidence for Programming on Unintended Pregnancies (STEP UP) project in 2012 assessed the knowledge and reproductive health needs of adolescents living in selected slums in Brong Ahafo and Greater Accra regions with the view of informing an improvement in adolescent sexual health (ASRH) programming in Ghana. The study concludes that stakeholders generally believed there was the need for enhanced adolescent sexual and reproductive health services in school as the present system of delivering these services were not sufficiently addressing ASRH needs. The use of trained psychologists and health workers was …
Understanding Fertility Regulation Strategies Among Educated Women In Accra, Cicely Marston, Alicia Renedo, Gertrude Nyaaba, Kazuyo Machiyama, Placide Tapsoba
Understanding Fertility Regulation Strategies Among Educated Women In Accra, Cicely Marston, Alicia Renedo, Gertrude Nyaaba, Kazuyo Machiyama, Placide Tapsoba
Reproductive Health
In Ghana fertility is declining, especially among urban educated women, yet according to the Ghana DHS, use of modern family planning methods fell between 2003 and 2014 in Greater Accra, particularly among better-educated and urban women. Recent studies have shown strong resistance to hormonal methods, reportedly because of fear of side effects. This study aimed to understand fertility regulation strategies among educated women in Accra using a qualitative, exploratory approach. Use of different methods was bound up in women’s modern identities and their attempts to meet the demands of modern urban life (get a good education and a professional, well-paid …
Are Parents Talking To Adolescents About Sexuality? Evidence From Four Slums In Ghana, Selina F. Esantsi, Francis Onyango, Gloria Quansah Asare, Emmanuel Kuffour, Placide Tapsoba, Harriet Birungi, Ian Askew
Are Parents Talking To Adolescents About Sexuality? Evidence From Four Slums In Ghana, Selina F. Esantsi, Francis Onyango, Gloria Quansah Asare, Emmanuel Kuffour, Placide Tapsoba, Harriet Birungi, Ian Askew
Reproductive Health
This evidence brief summarizes the essential information from a part of a larger study that assessed the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescents in four slums in two regions of Ghana. The objective of this brief is to provide evidence to support and facilitate the improvement of parent–adolescent communication on sexuality. This study echoes several other studies by providing evidence that a majority of parents are not opposed to in-school sex education for their children and welcome the idea of empowering themselves (parents) to have productive discussions with their children. Nevertheless, there is a mismatch between the proportion …
Community Opinion Leaders In Ghana Speak Out On Adolescent Sexuality: What Are The Issues?, Selina F. Esantsi, Francis Onyango, Gloria Quansah Asare, Emmanuel Kuffour, Placide Tapsoba, Harriet Birungi, Ian Askew
Community Opinion Leaders In Ghana Speak Out On Adolescent Sexuality: What Are The Issues?, Selina F. Esantsi, Francis Onyango, Gloria Quansah Asare, Emmanuel Kuffour, Placide Tapsoba, Harriet Birungi, Ian Askew
Reproductive Health
This policy brief reports on a study that is a component of a larger study that assessed the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescents in four slums in two regions of Ghana. The study’s focus on this perspective stems from the fact that there is a lack of evidence surrounding the outlook of community opinion leaders on adolescent reproductive health in this setting. Understanding what adults think about major adolescent SRH issues in their communities (including the SRH rights of adolescents, adult–adolescent communication about SRH issues, and service-seeking and sexual behavior outcomes) provides insight into how adults perceive …
Fertility Transitions In Kenya And Ghana: Trends, Determinants And Implications For Policy And Programs, Ian Askew, Baker Ndugga Maggwa, Francis Onyango
Fertility Transitions In Kenya And Ghana: Trends, Determinants And Implications For Policy And Programs, Ian Askew, Baker Ndugga Maggwa, Francis Onyango
Reproductive Health
The literature on fertility transitions in the sub-Saharan Africa region suggests that an early transition was observed across nearly all age groups, socioeconomic groups, and countries. This workshop report analyzes fertility transitions in Ghana and Kenya which are influenced by a multiplicity of factors, with marked similarities and differences between each country. Paradoxically, these analyses and critiques of policy and programming experiences suggest that, if enabling women and couples to achieve their wanted fertility rates within a rights-based approach that reduces inequities as well as reducing TFR toward replacement level are the goals of a national family planning program, then …
What Are The Sexual And Reproductive Health Needs Of Adolescents In Ghana’S Slums?, Selina F. Esantsi, Gloria Quansah Asare, Placide Tapsoba
What Are The Sexual And Reproductive Health Needs Of Adolescents In Ghana’S Slums?, Selina F. Esantsi, Gloria Quansah Asare, Placide Tapsoba
Reproductive Health
To address the need for quality evidence on the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescents in slums, the STEP UP project conducted a study in four slum settings in Ghana. This policy brief highlights key points, including the need for a well-designed, comprehensive sex education curriculum; interventions that address sexual coercion and violence as an integral component of current adolescent reproductive health programs; and the need to involve all stakeholders including parents/guardians and community leaders in addressing adolescent SRH needs. Evidence from the study can be used to improve ASRH programming so that it better meets the needs …
Understanding The Reproductive Health Needs Of Adolescents In Selected Slums In Ghana: A Public Health Assessment, Selina F. Esantsi, Francis Onyango, Gloria Quansah Asare, Emmanuel Kuffour, Placide Tapsoba, Harriet Birungi, Ian Askew
Understanding The Reproductive Health Needs Of Adolescents In Selected Slums In Ghana: A Public Health Assessment, Selina F. Esantsi, Francis Onyango, Gloria Quansah Asare, Emmanuel Kuffour, Placide Tapsoba, Harriet Birungi, Ian Askew
Reproductive Health
Over the past decade, adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) concerns have increasingly been on the development agenda of the government of Ghana. This concern has been driven by such factors as early age of sexual debut, early childbearing, and prevalence of HIV/AIDS among this subgroup of the population. The overall objective of the study was to generate evidence on the knowledge, perceptions, and practices regarding ASRH among slum communities in Ghana. The findings of the study indicate a need for intensifying efforts to inform and educate adolescents living in the slums about responsible and healthy attitudes toward sexuality, delaying …
Insights Into Unmet Need In Ghana, Kazuyo Machiyama, John C. Cleland
Insights Into Unmet Need In Ghana, Kazuyo Machiyama, John C. Cleland
Reproductive Health
This study aims to establish the relative importance of lack of access and attitudinal resistance toward use of family planning for different population and geographical strata in Ghana. It is intended to inform policymakers on the priority that should be given to behavior change communication or improved access/information, and also helpful to interventions to reduce health concerns and fear of side effects, such as provision of broader method mix and better counseling. The most far reaching implication concerns the reproductive behavior of the best educated women and those living in the capital or surrounding areas. The results suggest an enduring …
Les Coûts Du Mariage—Les Transactions Matrimoniales Dans Le Monde En Développement, Sajeda Amin, Ashish Bajracharya
Les Coûts Du Mariage—Les Transactions Matrimoniales Dans Le Monde En Développement, Sajeda Amin, Ashish Bajracharya
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
Au cours des deux dernières décennies, le Population Council a receuilli une multitude d'informations sur les causes et les corrélats du mariage des enfants et documenté ses effets néfastes sur le bien-être des femmes et des filles. Dans de nombreuses régions du monde en développement, la compréhension du mariage des enfants est au coeur de la conception de programmes qui favorisent des transitions saines vers l'âge adulte. Les travaux de recherche du Population Council soulignent également l'importance des rituels et des pratiques d'échange matrimoniales dans le monde et éclairent les différences considérables entre ces pratiques. Promouvoir des transitions vers l'âge …
Costos Del Matrimonio—Negociaciones Maritales En Países En Vías De Desarrollo, Sajeda Amin, Ashish Bajracharya
Costos Del Matrimonio—Negociaciones Maritales En Países En Vías De Desarrollo, Sajeda Amin, Ashish Bajracharya
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
Durante las dos últimas décadas, el Population Council ha acumulado una cantidad de información sobre las causas y correlaciones del matrimonio infantil y documentó sus efectos adversos sobre el bienestar de las mujeres y niñas. En muchas partes de los países en vías de desarrollo, el hecho de comprender el matrimonio infantil es central a la hora de diseñar programas que promuevan transiciones saludables para la edad adulta. La investigación del Council subraya la importancia de los rituales y las prácticas de intercambio matrimonial en todo el mundo y documenta la variación considerable en estas prácticas. Promoción de transiciones a …
Piloting A Safe Spaces, Asset-Building Program For Adolescent Girls In Urban Ghana, Sarah Engebretsen, Selina F. Esantsi
Piloting A Safe Spaces, Asset-Building Program For Adolescent Girls In Urban Ghana, Sarah Engebretsen, Selina F. Esantsi
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
Ghana’s population of 24 million is projected to reach 31.8 million in 2025. This population growth is coupled with rapid urbanization. Urban adolescent females experience a rapid decline in school enrollment, often because they need to provide economic support to families. Girls living apart from families and out of school often lack social networks and have few opportunities to build the critical skills needed for adulthood. The Population Council has a global portfolio of work reaching vulnerable adolescent girls with programs that provide a safe, girl-specific platform where girls can develop core skills, form friendships, receive and give peer support, …
Pilotage D'Un Programme Visant À Sécuriser L'Espace Et À Renforcer Les Ressources Des Adolescentes Vivant Dans Les Zones Urbaines Du Ghana, Sarah Engebretsen, Selina F. Esantsi
Pilotage D'Un Programme Visant À Sécuriser L'Espace Et À Renforcer Les Ressources Des Adolescentes Vivant Dans Les Zones Urbaines Du Ghana, Sarah Engebretsen, Selina F. Esantsi
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
La population du Ghana compte 24 millions d’habitants et devrait atteindre 31,8 millions d’habitants en 2025. Cette croissance démographique va de pair avec l’urbanisation rapide. Les adolescentes qui vivent en milieu urbain connaissent rapidement une diminution du taux de scolarisation, souvent parce qu'elles doivent apporter un soutien économique à leur familles. Les filles qui vivent à l’écart de leur famille et qui ne sont pas scolarisées sont souvent dépourvues de réseaux sociaux et ont peu d'occasions d’adquérir des compétences nécessaires à la vie adulte. Le Population Council dispose d’un portefeuille mondial d’activités consacrées aux adolescentes vulnérables avec des programmes qui …
Costs Of Marriage—Marriage Transactions In The Developing World, Sajeda Amin, Ashish Bajracharya
Costs Of Marriage—Marriage Transactions In The Developing World, Sajeda Amin, Ashish Bajracharya
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
Over the past two decades the Population Council has amassed a wealth of information on the causes and correlates of child marriage and documented its adverse effects on the well-being of women and girls. In many parts of the developing world, understanding child marriage is central to designing programs that promote healthy transitions to adulthood. Council research also underscores the importance of rituals and practices of marriage exchange around the globe and documents the considerable variation in these practices. Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief No. 35 synthesizes some broad themes that have emerged from research on …
Acceptability And Promotion Strategies For Lng-Ius In Ghana: A Public Health Assessment, Philomena Nyarko, Cletus Adohinzin, Placide Tapsoba, Selina F. Esantsi, John Townsend, Nicholas Kanlisi, Ekua Ed-Nighpense, Gloria Quansah Asare
Acceptability And Promotion Strategies For Lng-Ius In Ghana: A Public Health Assessment, Philomena Nyarko, Cletus Adohinzin, Placide Tapsoba, Selina F. Esantsi, John Townsend, Nicholas Kanlisi, Ekua Ed-Nighpense, Gloria Quansah Asare
Reproductive Health
In response to concerns about the side effects of the IUD, the commonly known reversible, long-term method in Ghana, and to curb the shift from long-term to short-term methods, the Ghana Health Service decided to expand women’s contraceptive method choices by introducing the Levonorgestrel-releasing Intrauterine System (LNG-IUS), a hormonal IUD, into the contraceptive method mix. The LNG-IUS is a uterine contraceptive that provides effective long-term protection up to five years. Even though the product has been certified as safe and effective, it was necessary to ensure that it satisfies client’s needs and meets provider expectations. The Population Council, in collaboration …
Day Of Dialogue: Sharing Insights And Evidence On The Female Condom In Ghana, Population Council
Day Of Dialogue: Sharing Insights And Evidence On The Female Condom In Ghana, Population Council
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
This report details a female condom meeting hosted by the Population Council in Ghana on November 24, 2008. Twenty-eight participants representing 17 organizations were in attendance. Meeting presentations included: Female Condom for Programs: Historical Overview; Considerations for Female Condom Strategic Planning; FC-2 Female Condoms; The Female Condom in Ghana: Current State of Affairs; Strategic Planning for FC: What Makes Success? A question-and-answer session was included, as was an analysis exercise, in which participants discussed and outlined the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that should be considered as we move forward with the development of a strategic plan to promote the …
Profile Of Abortion Seekers In Ghana And Their Decision-Making Processes, Philomena Nyarko, Cletus Adohinzin, Saumya Ramarao, Placide Tapsoba, Ayorinde Ajayi
Profile Of Abortion Seekers In Ghana And Their Decision-Making Processes, Philomena Nyarko, Cletus Adohinzin, Saumya Ramarao, Placide Tapsoba, Ayorinde Ajayi
Reproductive Health
In 2006, a consortium of agencies, including the Population Council, came together to provide technical and financial support to the Government of Ghana in the rollout of comprehensive abortion care (CAC) services. The consortium collaborated with the government in expanding women’s access to modern family planning and CAC. The consortium’s program, Reducing Maternal Mortality and Morbidity (R3M), aims to reduce unwanted pregnancy and severe complications and deaths caused by unsafe abortion. The formative research in this report was undertaken to provide a profile of beneficiaries, their needs for information and services, their decision-making process in seeking care, and the quality …
Adapting Focused Antenatal Care: Lessons From Three African Countries, Harriet Birungi
Adapting Focused Antenatal Care: Lessons From Three African Countries, Harriet Birungi
Reproductive Health
In 2001, the World Health Organization issued guidance on a new model of antenatal care (ANC) called goal-oriented or focused antenatal care (FANC), for implementation in developing countries. The new model reduces the number of required antenatal visits to four, and provides focused services shown to improve maternal outcomes. FANC emphasizes helping women maintain normal pregnancies by identifying existing health conditions, detecting emerging complications, promoting health, preparing for a healthy birth, and educating clients on postpartum care including nutrition, breastfeeding, and family planning. Trials conducted in Argentina, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand proved that FANC was safe and was a …
The Female Condom In Ghana: Exploring The Current State Of Affairs And Gauging Potential For Enhanced Promotion, Reshma Naik, Martha Brady
The Female Condom In Ghana: Exploring The Current State Of Affairs And Gauging Potential For Enhanced Promotion, Reshma Naik, Martha Brady
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
The female condom (FC) is the only safe and effective female-initiated method that provides simultaneous protection against unintended pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. An exploratory exercise was conducted by the Population Council to gain an understanding of the current and historical landscape of FC procurement, distribution, and programming in Ghana and to explore the viability of enhancing national FC promotion. The exercise revealed that a large-scale launch of the FC occurred in Ghana in 2000 and was largely successful in raising product awareness; however, uptake remained low. Momentum has waned since the initial launch and financial …
Female Body Dissatisfaction And Perceptions Of The Attractive Female Body In Ghana, The Ukraine, And The United States, David Frederick, Gordon B. Forbes, Anna Berezovskaya
Female Body Dissatisfaction And Perceptions Of The Attractive Female Body In Ghana, The Ukraine, And The United States, David Frederick, Gordon B. Forbes, Anna Berezovskaya
Psychology Faculty Articles and Research
In many non-Western societies, moderate to high levels of body fat in women have long been equated with health, physical attractiveness, social status, and fertility. In recent times, however, many Western cultures have emphasized the idea that slender women are most attractive. This emphasis on thinness has led to increased levels of body dissatisfaction and dieting in Western cultures and in cultures that have imported Western media and ideals. The current study examines the body ideals in two cultures that have recently undergone increased contact with Western nations: Ghana and the Ukraine. Body dissatisfaction and perceptions of the attractive female …
In Our Own Hands: Swaa-Ghana Champions The Female Condom, Kathleen Cravero, Michelle Skaer, Victoria Ebin, Martha Brady
In Our Own Hands: Swaa-Ghana Champions The Female Condom, Kathleen Cravero, Michelle Skaer, Victoria Ebin, Martha Brady
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
This issue of Quality/Calidad/Qualité describes the vital role played by the Ghana branch of the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA) in introducing the female condom, the only female-controlled method for protection from HIV. By addressing issues of gender inequity and communication within relationships, SWAA used the female condom to empower women to regain control of their bodies. Also in this issue are profiles of three other approaches to programming for the female condom from Brazil, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
Gender Inequalities And Demographic Behavior: Ghana/Kenya, Anastasia J. Gage, Wamucii Njogu
Gender Inequalities And Demographic Behavior: Ghana/Kenya, Anastasia J. Gage, Wamucii Njogu
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
Ghana and Kenya were the first countries in sub-Saharan Africa whose governments recognized the potentially detrimental effects of rapid population growth on economic development and, as a result, adopted and implemented national population policies. This is one of three reports on the relationship between gender equity, family structure and dynamics, and the achievement of reproductive choice that was prepared by the Population Council for the 1994 International Year of the Family and the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development. These reports provide critical reviews of the relationship between gender inequality and demographic behavior in three demographically significant, culturally distinct …