Amo-Adjei J.
3 Publications in AERD
Author Publications
Export PDFToward an Understanding of Optimal Grade for Starting Sexuality Education Programme for In-School Children and Adolescents: Insights from Ghana
By Amo-Adjei J.
Providing young people and children with age and developmentally appropriate comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is important for young people in making informed decisions. There are presently few studies documenting the relationship between school grade of learning CSE and curriculum coverage. We studied this relationship using a 2015 national survey conducted in three regions of Ghana—Greater Accra, Brong Ahafo, and Northern. A sample of 2,990 adolescents in Senior High School (SHS) 2 and 3 were drawn from 82 randomly sampled secondary schools. Logistic regression was used to assess full coverage of five CSE modules—sexual and reproductive physiology, HIV/STI prevention, contraception and pregnancy prevention, gender and sexual and reproductive health, and values and interpersonal skills and classes/grades students first started learning sexuality. The results show that students were more likely to learn all modules on sexual and reproductive physiology while values and interpersonal skills were the least covered topic. Students who learned sexuality topics before Primary 6 had better chances of better content coverage on five themes. Knowledge, and perhaps behavioral outcomes on sexual and reproductive health could be better enhanced with the early introduction of CSE topics. © 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Classroom implementation of national sexuality education curricula in four low- and middle-income countries
By Sidze E.
School-based comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) can help adolescents acquire crucial knowledge and skills to achieve their full potential, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with higher rates of negative sexual and reproductive outcomes. While many low- and middle-income countries have developed CSE curricula, little is known about how these are implemented in the classroom. This multi-country mixed-methods study analysed challenges to the implementation of national CSE curricula in schools in Ghana, Kenya, Peru and Guatemala, based on surveys of secondary school principals, teachers and students aged 15–17 years, and in-depth interviews with central and local government, NGOs and youth organisations. In all four countries, inadequate teacher training remained a major hurdle to effective implementation, manifesting in teacher discomfort and inaccurate messaging. This was compounded by a lack of comprehensive teaching resources. CSE classes were focused mainly on biology at the expense of contraception, gender and rights, despite students’ desire for greater coverage of these topics. Teaching methods lacked interactive activities necessary to develop skills and values. Findings offer useful lessons to improve school-level implementation in these and other countries facing similar challenges. Increasing teacher training and distributing comprehensive CSE materials responsive to adolescents’ needs remain priorities in all countries. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Determinants of Sexual Violence at Sexual Debut against in-School Adolescents in Ghana
By Amo-Adjei J.
Very few studies examine sexual violence perpetrated on adolescents in Ghana or in sub-Saharan Africa more generally. Using data collected in 2015 as part of a multi-country initiative, we employed multinomial logit models to examine violence experienced by Ghanaian adolescents at sexual debut. Results of our gender-specific models showed violence at sexual debut is gendered. While adolescent girls reported higher levels of forced sex (rape) at sexual debut, boys reported higher levels of coercion. Compared to those who had sex at relatively older ages, girls who had sex at younger ages were significantly more likely to say they were raped, were coerced or that sex ‘just happened’ than to report sex was wanted. Both male and female adolescents were significantly more likely to report sex was forced than wanted if the sexual partner was older. Female respondents who lived with family members other than their parents were significantly more likely to report forced sex (rape). We recommend government and interested stakeholders to promote social norms that discourage violence against adolescents. School-based programs, such as Ghana’s comprehensive sexuality education, must focus on equipping adolescents with the confidence and skills required to handle cultural pressures and the power differences that characterize sexual relationships. © 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
© 2026 AERD Database System. All Rights Reserved. Developed by Strategic Technologies.