Journal of Educational Research and Review
Research Article | Published November 2017 | Volume 5, Issue 6, pp. 90-96
A frown on sex education empowers teenage pregnancy in Ghana
|
Anthony Kudjo Donkor
Email Author
Tel: (233) (0) 20-086 1506. |
Faculty of Education, University for Development Studies, P. O. Box TL 1350, Tamale, Ghana.
|
……..…....….....…………............……………..........…..……….........................……………………...............……………………………….....………………...
Citation: Donkor AK (2017). A frown on sex education empowers teenage pregnancy in Ghana. J. Edu. Res. Rev. 5(6): 90-96.
……..…....….....…………............……………..........…..……….........................……………………...............……………………………….....………………...
Abstract
The author reviewed literature base on sex education and teenage pregnancy. The objectives of the study were to assess perceptions on sex education; identify the stakeholders of sex education; evaluate the scope of sex education curriculum and; to provide recommendations for sex education. It was discovered that there were some opposing views from parents and religious groups on the relevance of sex education in shaping the lives of the youth. However, this paper posits that increased understanding of the relevance of sex education by parents, religious groups and teachers will empower the youth against teenage pregnancy and its consequences, and will also improve upon human capital development. The study revealed that concealing sex education and sex-knowledge from the youth makes them more curious and vulnerable. Parents, religious leaders and schools should therefore get involved in the crusade against teenage pregnancy through sex education to equip the youth with knowledge in
order to overcome the potentially corrupt information that is out there especially through the social media and friends. The methodology helped glean lessons on how to build relationships with adolescent children in order to curb the incidence of teenage pregnancy in the society. For instance the culture of silence which created a communication gap between children and their parents in the family at the period the children needed to be engaged in conversations has been addressed. The study will be useful to students, parents, teachers and advocates of vulnerable groups such as the girl-child.
Keywords Girls
knowledge
parents schools sexuality
youth
References
Adamson C (2000). Defensive localism in white and black: A comparative history of European-American and African-American youth gangs. Ethnic Racial Stud. 23:272-298.
Alexander TV, Lloyd EP (2003). The importance of family and school domains in adolescent deviance: African American and Caucasian Youth. J. Youth Adolesc. 32:115-128.
Amanuel AT (2009). Human resource management for education practitioners in Africa. Teach. Teacher Educ. 15:849-859.
Ankomah A (2001). The International Encyclopaedia of Sexuality: Ghana. (Ed.). R. T. Francoeur, New York, NY: Continuum.
Ansah-Addo H (2005). Adolescent sex on the increase in Ghana: Behind the mask. Accra, Ghana. Retrieved from Ashesi.edu.gh.
Boult BE, Cunningham PW (1996). Black teenage pregnancy: An African perspective. Int. J. Adolesc. Youth. 3:303-309.
Brocato V, Dwamena-Aboagye A (2007). Violence against women & HIV/AIDS. Eds. Y. Amissah, et al., Achimota: The Ark Foundation Ghana.
Colleen M (2014). Provision of no-cost: Long-acting contraception and teenage pregnancy. New England J. Med. 371(14):1316-1323.
Ghana News Agency, GNA (2008). NGO protect children from effects of HIV/AIDS. Accra, Ghana: Health News.
Ghana News Agency, GNA (2004). Sex education to children does not make them promiscuous. Accra, Ghana: Modern Ghana News.
Ghana News Agency, GNA (2013). Ghana: 750,000 teenage pregnancies recorded annually. Health News, Accra, Ghana: Health News.
Ghana News Agency, GNA (2013). Adolescent pregnancy in ascendency in Upper East Region. Accra, Ghana. Health News.
Halinan MT, Williams RA (1990). Students’ characteristics and the peer influence process. Sociology of Education. 63:122-132.
Herrenkohl TL, Maguin E, Hill KG, Hawkins JD, Abbott RD, Catalano RF (2000). Developmental risk factors for youth violence. J. Adolesc. Health. 26(7):176-186.
Kendal D (2009). Social problems in diverse society. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Klemp JA, Moore MC (2003). The ECK HI 2 Discourses. Minneapolis: ECKANKAR.
Krohn MD, Thornberry TP, Collins-Hall L, Lizotte AJ (1995). School dropout, delinquent behavior, and drug use: An examination of the causes and consequences of dropping out of school. In H. B. Kaplan (Ed.), Drugs, crime, and other deviant adaptations: Longitudinal studies New York: Plenum Press. pp. 163-183.
Kwarko PE (2017). Girls must delay first sexual experience. Mentoring and coaching seminar for girls in Senior High Schools. Kumasi, Ghana: Health News.
Mathews C (2005). Reducing sexual risk behaviours: Theory research, successes and challenges. In S. S. Abdool-Karim and Q. Abdool-Karim (Eds.). HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Cambridge University Press.
McGee L, Newcomb MD (1992). General deviance syndrome: Expanded hierarchical evaluations at four ages from early adolescence to adulthood. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 60:766-776.
National Research Council (2001). Understanding dropouts: Statistics, strategies, and high-stakes testing. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Nganga D (2017). Sex education: Uganda will now teach sex education to 3-year-olds. Available at pulse.com.gh.logo.
Osei A (2009). Sex education in Ghanaian society: The skeleton in the cupboard. Retrieved from Ashesi.edu.gh/images/academics/ writing/center/09_osei_essay.pdf.
Owusu SA (2012). Cultural and religious impediments against sex education. Accra, Ghana: GNA.
Oppong C, Oppong PA, Odotei IK (2006). Sex and gender in an era of AIDS: Ghana at the turn of the millennium. Accra: Sub-Saharan Publishers.
Schwartz P, Rutter V (1998). The gender of sexuality. London: Pine Forge Publishers.
Scottie CA, Awasu C (2011). Prevailing against the odds of dropping out of schools in Ghana. Afr. J. Educ. Technol. 1(2):125-142.
United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA (2014). Operational guidance for comprehensive sexuality education: A focus on human rights and gender. New York, NY.
United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF (2001). A league table of teenage births in rich nations. Innocenti Report Card No. 3.
World Health Organisation, WHO (2014). Adolescent pregnancy. Available at www.who.int/reproductivehealth.