ADOLESCENT SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AWARENESS IN AJUMAKO-ENYAN-ESSIAM DISTRICT

ABSTRACT

Sexual and reproductive health is fundamental to the development of human capital. However, early age at sexuality exposes adolescents to the health risk of early pregnancy and childbearing, sexually transmitted infections, unsafe abortions, lost of socio-economic benefits and thereby affecting the realization of their human capital potentials. Descriptive cross-sectional design, questionnaire and interview schedules were the methods employed in data collection. Probability and non-probability sampling techniques were employed to draw a sample size of 164 respondents due to time, money and logistics constraints. The study showed that respondents have adequate stock of knowledge of sexuality and reproductive health hazards but are becoming sexually active at an early age with low or inconsistent use of contraceptives. The main reasons for early sexual activity were: sexual pleasure, peer influence and financial support. Thus, the acquired knowledge and attitudes are direct manifestations of human capital development but the low/inconsistent use of contraceptives indirectly affects the development of respondents’ human capital potentials. That is by restraining the acquisition of knowledge, skills, abilities and good health through education, training and health services as a result of the early pregnancy, childbearing/abortion and maternal/infant morbidity and mortality. Eventually these conditions affect the employability, productive skills, labour participation and future life-time earnings of respondents. Indeed, collaborative and sustained skill base education in schools and communities can improve on adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health and human capital development in the district.