My Body, My Right: Bridging the Gap in Sexual Reproductive Health Knowledge in Rural Ghana (Hohoe).

By: Talata Awuah

In Ghana, the conversation of sex and contraceptives remains a sensitive topic, particularly when it involves adolescents. Religious beliefs and some cultural expectations combined with stigma sometimes limit young people from trying to access accurate, age-appropriate information on sexual and reproductive health. 

As part of Mako’s vision of being a haven for at-risk children and youth in rural Ghana, where children not only come to learn, be nourished, play and connect, we believe that it is also part of our responsibility to add our voice to the growing challenges of limited sexual and reproductive health education within our community of work. Therefore, early this year, the Mako Children’s Opportunity Centre hosted a Sexual and Reproductive Health workshop under the theme: My Body! My Right!. 

This workshop was not simply a programme activity; it was a deliberate attempt to respond to the growing challenges affecting young adolescents in rural communities like Hohoe when it comes to sexual and reproductive health information, where such is scarce, stigma surrounding it is high, and the consequences are very profound.

The Brutal Reality Young Adolescents Face

Across Ghana, particularly young adolescents, are struggling with gaps in attaining sexual and reproductive health knowledge and services, and the data around it is very disheartening.

According to national data, approximately 1 in 7 girls aged 15–19 has begun childbearing. In a recent health facility data analysis for the Volta Region (2019-2023), which includes Hohoe, the incidence of adolescent pregnancy (ages 10-19) was estimated at approximately 14.8 pregnancies per 1,0000 female adolescents per year. The report indicated that the vast majority (about 97%) were ages 15-19, while early adolescence (ages 10-14) accounted for a much smaller share. In an early 2024 review of half-year maternal health data, Hohoe had a teenage pregnancy rate of about 10.91%, meaning about 10.9% of antenatal registrations were teenagers. Although slightly below some neighbouring districts, it remains among the highest in the region.

Additional national reports indicate that early sexual debut among young adolescents remains prevalent, while the use of contraception among sexually active adolescent girls remains comparatively low, and many young adolescents face barriers to accessing youth-friendly reproductive health services, particularly in rural districts like Hohoe.

These realities are not just abstract; they bear very damning consequences, which result in school dropouts, early childbearing, increased vulnerability to exploitation, unsafe abortion, and long-term economic hardship.

In many rural communities in Ghana, including Hohoe, conversations about sexual and reproductive health are still considered taboo. Parents, who are supposed to educate their children on sexual and reproductive health, may feel unequipped to guide them. Schools, which are next in line, often provide limited or inconsistent information. This gap leaves adolescents to rely on peers or fragmented online content.

Why Mako Organised This Workshop

At Mako, we work closely with young people navigating vulnerable circumstances. We see firsthand how misinformation and stigma increase risk. We see how young girls get exploited in their naivety due to their lack of accurate information, such as their menstrual cycle, and boys who are not taught about consent, respect and harmful social pressure become more susceptible to coercion and unsafe decisions. 

The My Body, My Pride workshop was intentionally designed to address these gaps by providing:

• Age-appropriate, medically accurate reproductive health education

• Open discussions on puberty, menstrual health, and bodily changes

• Clear guidance on consent, boundaries, and personal responsibility

• A safe, respectful environment for honest questions

This was not about promoting behaviour. It was about prevention, protection, and empowerment.

A Safe Space for Honest Conversations

Throughout the workshop, our facilitator led conversations with professionalism and sensitivity. Students engaged openly, many for the first time.

Our facilitator, Madam Millicent TsoTso Sowah (Public Health Nurse), reflected:

“Many adolescents in Ghana, especially in Hohoe, carry confusion and fear in silence. When they leave with understanding and confidence, you see a real transformation. With workshops like this, the knowledge gained restores dignity.”

Education as Protection

Sexual and reproductive health education is foundational to safeguarding young people.

When adolescents understand their bodies and rights:

• They are more likely to remain in school.

• They make safer, informed decisions.

• They are better equipped to advocate for themselves.

• They grow into confident and responsible adults.

That is why at Mako, protection extends beyond physical safety. It includes equipping young people with knowledge that strengthens resilience and builds healthier futures.

Moving Forward

One workshop cannot resolve systemic challenges. But it can spark change. It can replace stigma with understanding. It can turn confusion into confidence.

“My Body. My Right” is more than a theme. It is a commitment to ensure that every young person we serve has access to accurate information, dignity, and support.

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