Community opinion leaders in Ghana speak out on adolescent sexuality: What are the issues?

This policy brief reports on a study that is a component of a larger study that assessed the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescents in four slums in two regions of Ghana. The study’s focus on this perspective stems from the fact that there is a lack of evidence surrounding the outlook of community opinion leaders on adolescent reproductive health in this setting. Understanding what adults think about major adolescent SRH issues in their communities (including the SRH rights of adolescents, adult–adolescent communication about SRH issues, and service-seeking and sexual behavior outcomes) provides insight into how adults perceive and influence the lives of young people, and therefore, how programs could be designed to better serve the sexual health needs of adolescents. The brief summarizes key findings that identify the issues facing these community opinion leaders