Disabled persons in Ghanaian health strategies: reflections on the 2016 adolescent reproductive health policy

Abstract

The sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of persons with disabilities have received minimal attention from the Government of Ghana in the past. This was partly reinforced through reproductive health (RH) policies that did not well recognise disability inclusion and the inaccessibility of services for persons with disabilities. In acknowledgement of national and international RH policies, frameworks and legal instruments highlighting disability inclusion, the 2016 adolescent health policy document recognised the need to give attention to the SRH of adolescents and persons with disabilities. However, there is an absence of analysis of factors affecting adolescents with disabilities. Despite the lack of disability-specific indicators, and absence of data on adolescents with disabilities, interventions were developed which are poorly understood. This commentary argues that since we do not know the exact nature of SRH needs of adolescents with disabilities, the policy is unlikely to be successful in addressing existing inequities in access, quality of services and outcomes for adolescents with disabilities in Ghana. Recommendations are made for future improvements.

Level of Inclusiveness of People with Disabilities in Ghanaian Health Policies and Reports: A Scoping Review

“…Nonetheless, in this current review, most of the policies had political recognition, which presupposes that the government has control over the enactment and implementation of the various policies. Relatedly, Abdul Karimu [30] also reviewed the 2016 AHSPS and concluded that there are various loopholes that need to be considered in the policy. For example, she stated that contraception access and counselling are not well captured among adolescents with disabilities.…”

“…PWDs are a group of people with special needs and are confronted daily with several challenges that transcend different aspects of their lives. World-wide policies and strategies pregnancy-related complications greatly contribute to the morbidity and mortality in many LMICs [29,30,32]. Despite this, the SRH needs of PWDs have been neglected [29,30,32].…”

“…World-wide policies and strategies pregnancy-related complications greatly contribute to the morbidity and mortality in many LMICs [29,30,32]. Despite this, the SRH needs of PWDs have been neglected [29,30,32]. According to Hashemi et al [32], PWDs are more likely to have poor general health outcomes when compared to those without disabilities.…”

“…Previous studies on the inclusion of disability in policies and research have been conducted by Mprah et al [29] and Abdul Karimu [30]. These reviews were specific and limited in scope.…”

“…These reviews were specific and limited in scope. Specifically, Mprah et al [29] reviewed how disability-related issues have been included in SRH policies and research, while Abdul Karimu [30] examined the inclusion of adolescents with disabilities in the AHSPS 2016-2020. This current review is novel as it considers all the major health policies and reports in general.…”