Agyei W K, Biritwum R B, Ashitey A G, Hill R B
School of Liberal Arts, Norfolk State University, VA 23504, USA.
J Biosoc Sci. 2000 Oct;32(4):495-512. doi: 10.1017/s0021932000004958.
A fertility survey of unmarried adolescents and young adults (953 males and 829 females) in Greater Accra and Eastern regions of Ghana revealed that a substantial proportion of the respondents were sexually experienced. Overall, 66.8% of the males and 78.4% of the females were sexually experienced. The mean ages (+/- SD) of the males and females were 15.5 +/- 2.5 and 16.2 +/- 2.0 years, respectively. Most respondents claimed to have received adequate information on reproductive health and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including AIDS. However, 20% and 30% of the respondents in peri-urban and rural areas, respectively, did not know that a girl could get pregnant the first time she has sexual intercourse. The incidence of pregnancy among the unmarried female respondents was relatively high (37%), and was higher in urban than in rural areas. Approximately 47% of those who had ever been pregnant reported that they had had an abortion. Levels of contraceptive awareness were high (98.2% among males and 95.5% among females) but many still engaged in unprotected sexual relations. The most commonly used methods were the condom and the pill. The main reasons given for non-use were that they did not think about contraception, were concerned about the safety of contraceptives, and partner objection. These findings point to the need for targeting of unmarried adolescents and young adults with information on reproductive health and family planning to increase their awareness of the risks of pregnancy, STDs and HIV infection.
一项针对加纳大阿克拉和东部地区未婚青少年及青年（953名男性和829名女性）的生育情况调查显示，相当一部分受访者有过性经历。总体而言，66.8%的男性和78.4%的女性有过性经历。男性和女性的平均年龄（±标准差）分别为15.5±2.5岁和16.2±2.0岁。大多数受访者声称已获得关于生殖健康和包括艾滋病在内的性传播疾病的充分信息。然而，分别有20%和30%的城郊和农村地区受访者不知道女孩首次性交就可能怀孕。未婚女性受访者中的怀孕发生率相对较高（37%），且城市地区高于农村地区。约47%曾经怀孕的受访者报告称她们做过人工流产。避孕意识水平较高（男性为98.2%，女性为95.5%），但许多人仍进行无保护的性关系。最常用的方法是避孕套和避孕药。不使用避孕措施的主要原因是他们没有考虑避孕、担心避孕药具的安全性以及伴侣反对。这些调查结果表明，有必要针对未婚青少年及青年提供生殖健康和计划生育方面的信息，以提高他们对怀孕、性传播疾病和艾滋病毒感染风险的认识。
