Sexual behavior of adolescents living in an urban slum in Ghana

Eugene K. M. Darteh, University of Cape Coast
Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme, University of Cape Coast

Adolescents sexual and reproductive health is important because it has implications for improving the health outcomes of individual, especially reduction of unintended pregnancies and HIV and AIDS/STIs. Using both qualitative and quantitative data collected from adolescents aged 15-19 years living in Kwesimintsim zongo, this paper examines sexual relationships and partnerships among adolescents aged 15-19 years in urban slum settings. Both the survey and qualitative results reveal early sexual activities among the respondents. Age mixing exists among adolescents in the area with the mean age of adolescents’ first partner been about 15.7 years for males and 20.6 years for the females.. The study observes some gender differences in the reasons for having sex. To mitigate the negative outcomes of risky sexual and reproductive health practices such as early sex, age mixing among others measures should be put in place to dissuade adolescents from engaging in these sexual activities.