Family planning in Ghana

Women in Ghana have a strong desire to have children because starting a family is very important in the country. Infertile women are therefore excluded. The public attaches too little importance to fertility treatment. The relevance of effective contraception is evident in the significant impact on health and society when family planning is not available. Factors influencing the acceptance and therefore the use of contraceptives in Ghana include age parity and marital status but also knowledge empowerment and place of residence. Limited access or costs hinder the use of modern contraceptive methods. In Ghana influential beliefs prevail as do traditional values and a widespread fear of unwanted side effects. The role of men has a major influence on the implementation of modern family planning. Young people not only face particular barriers but also have specific needs when it comes to counselling and the implementation of contraception. These findings can also be observed during an internship.