Disabled persons in Ghanaian health strategies: reflections on the 2016 adolescent reproductive health policy

Abstract

The sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of persons with disabilities have received minimal attention from the Government of Ghana in the past. This was partly reinforced through reproductive health (RH) policies that did not well recognise disability inclusion and the inaccessibility of services for persons with disabilities. In acknowledgement of national and international RH policies, frameworks and legal instruments highlighting disability inclusion, the 2016 adolescent health policy document recognised the need to give attention to the SRH of adolescents and persons with disabilities. However, there is an absence of analysis of factors affecting adolescents with disabilities. Despite the lack of disability-specific indicators, and absence of data on adolescents with disabilities, interventions were developed which are poorly understood. This commentary argues that since we do not know the exact nature of SRH needs of adolescents with disabilities, the policy is unlikely to be successful in addressing existing inequities in access, quality of services and outcomes for adolescents with disabilities in Ghana. Recommendations are made for future improvements.