Barriers and Facilitators towards the Implementation of Policies and Programmes Aimed at Reducing Adolescent Pregnancy in Ghana: An Exploratory Study

Bright Opoku Ahinkorah, School of Public Health University of Technology Sydney Australia

We explored the barriers and facilitators towards the implementation of policies and programmes aimed at reducing adolescent pregnancy in Ghana. We employed a cross-sectional, qualitative study design involving interviews with health and education professionals, grassroots workers, and female adolescents. The key barriers were gender inequality and community support for early childbearing and cohabitation. Effective implementation of community by-laws, youth involvement, and collaboration and effective coordination between stakeholders were the facilitators. Existing legal frameworks in low-and middle income countries need to be strengthened to address issues such as child marriages and gender-based violence that put adolescent girls at risk of pregnancy. Gender empowerment programmes such as education and training of adolescent girls should be implemented and strengthened at both the community and national levels. Community members should be sensitized on the negative effects of norms that support child marriage, gender-based violence and early childbearing.