A study conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service as part of the Ghana Demography and Health Survey has indicated that men in the Northern region engaged in sex before marriage.
The study centered on respondents from Ashanti and Northern regions to understand why young people engaged in sex and whether their first sexual encounter was out of coercion. All respondents in the Ashanti region also indicated they engaged in sex without being married.
The study revealed that the percentage of young women aged 20-29 in the northern region who had sex by age 18 was high in the country. The indication is that they had their first sex during their first marriage as most of these young girls were married off at the age of 15 years.
The percentages recorded for young men were however low suggesting gender differences in the context of first sex. Respondents were asked about how they communicated with their first sexual partners to ascertain the level of engagement.
The findings generated suggested that both men and women frequently talked about the future with their first sexual partners, however, women largely spoke about marriage and children while men were interested in their well-being and issues relating to their growth.
On the issue of willingness to have sex, some of the respondents in the northern region indicated that they were willing because it was more of a responsibility than a choice.
Respondents from the Ashanti region however indicated unwillingness to have sex. Some of the key issues that stood out in the study were the fact that open and clear communication about sex especially first sex was very limited, again use of contraception during first sex was low.
Industry players are advocating that future policies must focus on general sexual well-being amongst the youth and the availability of enhanced services to assist victims of sexual violence.
