Ipas Ghana has released the findings of an assessment on knowledge and access to Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) counselling by in-school youth in selected Senior High Schools in Greater Accra, Ashanti and Eastern Regions of Ghana.

The assessment was conducted to understand young people’s access to SRH counselling in schools, the relationship with counsellors on SRH issues and their most preferred source of accessing this information.

The panelist included the Country Director of Ipas Ghana, Dr. Koma Jehu-Appiah, the Chairperson for the event; Mrs. Ivy Kumi (Ghana Education Service Guidance and Counseling Unit), Mrs. Philomena Buckman (Girls Education Unit), and Dr. Samuel K. Azumah, Senior Advisor, Community Access, Ipas.

Improvements in sexual and reproductive health literacy can contribute to gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls (SDG 5), for example by helping girls to stay in school, reducing gender gaps in education (SDG 4), and improving future economic opportunities (SDG 8). By advancing access to better jobs and by delaying pregnancy, sexual and reproductive health literacy can also help break chains of inter-generational poverty (SDGs 1 and 10). This eventually will shrink the dependency ratio and lead to economic growth in the country.

The event, which was mainly organised for Senior High School Counsellors from the various regions especially Greater Accra, Ashanti and Eastern Regions, was to access the improvement in the relationship between School Counselors and students.

Some reasons why students don’t seek advice from School Counselors

Dr. Koma Jehu-Appiah, Country Director, Ipas Ghana attributed the high rate of school dropout to lack of adequate education on SRH to help the girl child make informed decisions. He added that most Counsellors were religious leaders, which sometimes made it difficult for students to approach them for any advice in relation to their sexual reproductive health.

The goal for the project was to contribute to reducing pregnancy related issues by empowering in-school youth (girls and boys) with SRH counselling and information to enable them make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, and act on them.

In addition to that, the initiative was to create a platform for in-school youth, particularly girls to openly and confidently approach School Counsellors to discuss their sexual and reproductive health needs.

Sexual Reproductive Health issues facing adolescents remain a major challenge. According to Philomena Buckman from the Girls Education Unit of Ghana Education Service, a ‘Re-entry Policy’ for school girls will be implemented soon to help retain most girls in school. “I hope this will motivate pregnant girls to return to school after delivery”, she added.

Dr. Samuel K. Antobam, Senior Advisor, Research and Evaluation, Ipas Ghana stated that, according to the Baseline Survey, about 91 per cent of the students have been introduced to SRH information from various institutions and agreed that more education should be done.

Issues of trust, no office space, extra responsibilities assigned to Counsellors, among others are some hindrances that discouraged cordial relationships between School Counsellors and students. In relation to that, the School Counsellors pleaded with the Chairperson, Mrs. Ivy Kumi (Ghana Education Service Guidance and Counseling Unit), to convince the appropriate authorities to detach them from such responsibilities to enable them work effectively.

Dr. Antobam recommended that there should be frequent capacity building for School Counsellors in SRH to enable them provide trusts, confidential counseling to students. Also, SRH should be included in all courses to help in-school youths acquire more information rather than being misinformed online.

Ipas Ghana is a non-governmental organisation committed to promoting sexual and reproductive health status and rights of women and the youth.

By Erica Ehiamah -Curious Minds