“What Is a Child Like You Doing with Condoms”? Barriers to Condom Use among Adolescents in Two Rural Districts of Ghana

Edward Adiibokah, Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC)
Samuel Afari-Asiedu, Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC)

Majority of sexual encounters among adolescents in Ghana remain unprotected, as evidenced in high levels of unplanned pregnancies and STIs/HIV among this group. Promoting condom use may be a plausible remedy.Contextual issues play an important role in condom use among adolescents in Ghana, however efforts have focused on individual level factors to the neglect of the former. The paper draws on data from a reproductive health study by the Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC) that among others explored barriers to condom use among adolescents in predominantly rural communities. Five FGDs and 11 IDIs were conducted with adolescents, societal representatives and service providers.Thematic analysis was used. Preliminary results reveal that adolescent's efforts at condom use are hampered by context specific challenges. This is perhaps a reflection of the policy dilemmas and cultural contradictions that characterise adolescent sexuality and condom use in Ghana.Greater emphasis should me placed in modifying these contextual factors.