Adolescents in Ghana have sexual and reproductive health information communication skill needs, and a culturally sensitive SRH information communication intervention is recommended to guide adolescents and parents in the communication process.
Key Findings
Results
Four major themes emerged from adolescent interviews regarding SRH communication needs in Ghana.
The four themes were: Adolescent and Parent Attitudes, Sociocultural Issues, SRH Information Communication, and Adolescent SRH Information Communication Skill Needs.
Thematic analysis was conducted using Braun and Clarke's approach.
Themes were derived from interviews with 10 adolescents aged 13 to 16 years.
Participants were purposively recruited from the Asante Akyem North Municipality in Ghana.
Results
Adolescents demonstrated identifiable sexual and reproductive health information communication skill needs.
This finding emerged as one of the four primary themes from the qualitative analysis.
The study specifically explored these needs from a culturally sensitive perspective.
Sample consisted of 10 adolescents, with saturation reached at this sample size.
The age range of participants was 13 to 16 years.
Results
Sociocultural issues were identified as a distinct theme shaping adolescent-parent SRH communication in Ghana.
Sociocultural issues emerged as one of four themes from the qualitative descriptive exploratory design.
The study was conducted in the Asante Akyem North Municipality, reflecting a specific Ghanaian cultural context.
Cultural sensitivity was a central analytical lens throughout the study.
The findings underscore the role of cultural context in shaping SRH communication between adolescents and parents.
Results
Both adolescent and parent attitudes were identified as a theme influencing SRH information communication.
Adolescent and Parent Attitudes emerged as one of the four main themes.
The study explored communication dynamics from the adolescent perspective, as only adolescents were interviewed.
Participants were between 13 and 16 years old, representing early-to-mid adolescence.
The qualitative descriptive exploratory design was used to capture these attitudinal dimensions.
Conclusions
A culturally sensitive SRH information communication intervention is recommended as potentially valuable for guiding adolescents and parents.
The recommendation arose from the finding that adolescents have SRH information communication skill needs.
The intervention is described as potentially having 'value in guiding adolescents and parents in the communication process.'
This is the third phase of an explanatory sequential Mixed Methods Research (MMR) study, situating the qualitative findings within a broader research program.
The study context is Ghana, where cultural norms significantly influence SRH communication.
Background
Adolescent-parent communication on SRH is described as fundamental to improving SRH outcomes.
This is framed as established evidence in the background of the study.
The study was motivated by global challenges adolescents face related to sexual and reproductive health.
The Ghanaian setting was specifically chosen to examine these dynamics from a culturally sensitive perspective.
The study design was qualitative descriptive exploratory, suited to exploring communication dynamics in depth.
What This Means
This research studied what young people in Ghana need in order to talk about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) topics — particularly with their parents — from a culturally informed viewpoint. Researchers interviewed 10 adolescents aged 13 to 16 in the Asante Akyem North Municipality of Ghana. Through careful analysis of these conversations, four key themes emerged: the attitudes of both teenagers and parents toward SRH discussions, sociocultural factors that shape these conversations, how SRH information is currently communicated, and the specific communication skills that adolescents need but may lack.
The study found that adolescents do have real, identifiable needs when it comes to skills for communicating about sexual and reproductive health. Cultural norms and social context play a significant role in how — and whether — these conversations happen between young people and their parents. Because Ghana has its own distinct cultural setting, the researchers emphasize that any program designed to improve these conversations must be culturally sensitive to be effective.
This research suggests that creating a culturally tailored communication intervention could help both adolescents and their parents navigate SRH discussions more effectively. By addressing the specific skill gaps and cultural barriers identified in this study, such an intervention could potentially contribute to better health outcomes for young people in Ghana and similar settings. The study is part of a larger mixed-methods research project, meaning these qualitative findings are intended to inform the development of practical tools or programs.
Agyei F, Kaura D, Bell J. (2025). Adolescent sexual and reproductive health information communication skill needs in Ghana: a culturally sensitive perspective.. BMC public health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-24316-5