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Use of contraceptives among adolescent into first sex low- Research reveals
It has emerged from a research published in 2024 that the overall use of contraceptives among young people during their first sexual encounters is relatively low.
According to the research, large portions of both men and women interviewed from the Northern and Ashanti regions reported not using any contraceptive method for the first time.
The research, conducted by the USAID in 2022 sought to dissect the stage of life that marked the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
This stage of life is a great opportunity and vulnerability as they begin the establishment of romantic and sexual relationships, both within and outside of marriage and where youth often first encounter both the excitement and joys that comes with these relationships and their associated potential risks.
And with their little or no experience, it is expected that they indulge in all the safety and protective protocols to remain safe.
The report, however, indicated otherwise.
According to the study, many couples did not discuss or plan for sex, which implied that they also did not discuss using contraception.
The reason for this was because while others lacked knowledge about contraception, some also felt they were not able to make choices about using contraception themselves.
A few were also identified to intentionally choose to not use contraception.
Giving more reasons, a number of the male respondents attributed those decisions to perceptions that it was not possible for the women to become pregnant the first time she had sex.
Others ignore contraceptive use in order to ease pressure from their families to produce a child.
For the female respondents, they deferred the decision about contraception to their male partners, often because of an assumption that males had greater knowledge.
Others, according to the report, had limited interest in using contraception, often for nonspecific reasons while others actually wanted to get pregnant and intentionally chose to not use contraception for that reason.
The report also revealed that some participants that did not use contraceptives for their sexual debut, however, used them in their subsequent sex, a situation commonly reported among females than males.
The report also made startling revelation about how women described sex as transactional to get a few favours.
According to the report, sex was not all about emotions and a demonstration of love but clearly, a transaction in exchange for school fees, lodging, or food.
These transactional relationships, where there was an expectation of sex in return for money or gifts, was categorised as high coercion.
“Even within these transactional relationships, respondents often described the goodness of their benefactor, and spoke of how they trusted them and how those feelings factored into the decision to have sex,” it added.
The research also reported a variation in motivations for first sex from being curious to wanting to express the depth of love for a partner.
For many respondents, sex was seen as a demonstration of love, and of the commitment or seriousness attached to the relationship.
However, there were a range of ways in which this was experienced in relationships.
The study further said, for individuals who had their first sex within a romantic relationship but before marriage, having sex for the first time was seen as a way of establishing a relationship.
Others also saw sex as a way to create a bond and establish a relationship.
“Beyond establishing a relationship, other respondents described having sex as a sincere demonstration of love and commitment between two people, especially among those who were in a relationship but not married at the time of first sex,” it stated.
It said in other cases, sex was used as an internal pressure to prove one’s love to the partner.
By Spectator Reporter
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Speaker of Parliament inaugurates open Parliament Steering Committee, launches action plan
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has launched the Open Parliament Steering Committee and the Open Parliament Action Plan.
The ceremony was under the theme “Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action.”
The Speaker highlighted the critical role Parliament plays in translating the will of the people into inclusive legislation, responsive policies, and accountable governance.
“The International Day of Parliamentarianism is worth celebrating, as it offers an opportunity not only to recognise and promote achievements in strengthening democratic governance, but also to pause and reflect on the remaining gaps in institutionalising parliamentary democracy,” he said.
He noted that the event was scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Parliamentarianism to reinforce the importance of open and inclusive governance.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, stated that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is intended to recognise the vital role Parliaments play globally as pillars of democratic governance.
He noted that this marks the first time Ghana is formally observing the day.
“The gravity of our observance is further accentuated as we convene to witness the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan by the Open Government Partnership Caucus,” he said.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, described the Open Parliament Action Plan as a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between Parliament and the public.
She said the plan represents a bold commitment to making Parliament more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of Ghanaians.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, described the launch as a key milestone in the effort to build a citizen-focused and accountable Parliament.
He added that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is a call to action to recommit to the highest standards of public service and democratic accountability.
The inauguration was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including the Majority and Minority Members of Parliament, members of the Open Parliament Steering Committee, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus, Parliamentary Network Africa, representatives from civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional and religious leaders, student bodies, the Parliamentary Press Corps, and other media partners.
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NACOC declares drug menace a national emergency
The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior has paid a working visit to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to engage with its leadership and assess operational challenges hampering the fight against illicit drugs.
In a detailed presentation, Dr. Basha Ligbi, Head of the Commission’s Research Bureau, highlighted critical setbacks including broken body scanners at airport terminals, inadequate office infrastructure, overcrowded detention facilities, and deteriorating vehicles.
He also called for the Commission’s headquarters to be reclassified as a security zone, citing growing security risks due to private encroachment and nearby high-rise developments.
Director General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obiba Mantey, described the escalating drug trade as a national emergency, warning that drug barons now rival armed robbers in threat level and are gaining influence at the highest levels.
He appealed for stronger institutional support and morale-boosting interventions to preserve the integrity of NACOC officers.
Chairman of the Committee and MP for Builsa North, James Agalga, assured the Commission of the Committee’s commitment to escalate the concerns to Parliament and engage key justice sector stakeholders to fast-track reforms in support of NACOC’s mandate.
