ABSTRACT
Contraception is one of the four essential determinant factors of fertility identify by Bongart (1978). The role of contraceptive usage in population reduction and reproductive health cannot be overemphasized. Over the years, Ghana has been promoting the modern usage of contraceptives, yet there has not been appreciable and consistent increase in its usage among citizens and to some extent refugees in the country. The extent of meeting the needs of vulnerable groups such as female refugees has not been extensively studied. The study, therefore, examined the modern contraceptive usage among female refugees in Ghana the case of Fetenta refugees‟ camp. The research design that was adopted was a mixed method. The sample size was made up of 70 female refuges selected through systematic sampling procedure. Instruments were structured questionnaires and in-depth interview guides. The quantitative data was analysed using SPSS and the qualitative through the use of thematic analysis. The result shows that perception and knowledge of contraceptives were positive in terms of the types and reasons for the usage. With regards to accessibility, the findings indicated that it was difficult accessing it since it was not available and knowledge on its usage was lacking. The major reasons for its usage were the prevention of pregnancy and birth spacing. It is concluded that modern contraceptive usage should be made available within the camps for easy patronage. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that healthcare providers, friends, and the mass media are the source of information on contraceptives, therefore GHS should have a policy on how to reach out to people including refugees with in-depth knowledge on the benefits of contraceptive usage.
CHAPTER ONE
Background of the study
The incident of refugees has become paramount among governments, civil society organizations, and intergovernmental organizations in recent times. This is due to the steady increase in the number of refugees and the uncongenial conditions under which they found themselves. With a total of 68.5 million people forcibly displaced, close to one third (25.4 million) of them were refugees (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 2017). Whereas natural disasters such as floods, drought, earthquakes, and tidal waves have displaced several people, conflict and violence have caused a lot of refugee situation in some parts of the world. Consequently, these people end up in places either than their home country. Africa continues to experience a refugee situation in terms of producing, hosting, and sending a large number of refugees to different countries. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 2017 Report reveals that out of the top five countries with a high number of refugees, two were African countries – South Sudan and Somalia. Although East and North Africa are conspicuously known for producing and hosting a chunk of refugees, parts of West Africa continue to experience displacement and refugee-like situations of people.
Since the early 1990s, Ghana has become one of the preferred destinations for refugees from neighbouring countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire (Tanle, 2013). This has led to the establishment of some refugee camps in Ghana such as Buduburam, Krisan, Ampain, Fetenta, Egyeikrom, among others to host the influx of these refugees. Several studies have been conducted to understand the various dimensions of the refugee situation in Ghana. The economic livelihood of refugees in Ghana has extensively been explored (Trapp, 2018; Antwi, 2015; Manteaw, 2014; Teye & Yebleh, 2014), also the
integration of the refugees (Acheampong, 2015; Agblorti, 2011), as well as the challenges refugees encounter in Ghana (Dako-Gyeke & Adu, 2017; Bortu, 2009). However, little attention has been paid to the sexual practices of refugees in Ghana although it forms an important part of refugee‟s lives in the various camps.
Apart from the arduous conditions, refugees found themselves including; lack of access to social amenities such as schools, water, food, accommodation, health facilities (Ahimbisibwe, 2018; Schilling et al., 2017), they are also prone to sexual violence and sometimes engage in risky sexual behaviours. Apparently, the most vulnerable group of people that tend to endure the burden of these risky sexual behaviours is female refugees (World Health Organization, 2018; Okanlawon, Reeves & Agbaje, 2010). Thus, some end up in early marriages, unwanted pregnancies, and maternal morbidity. This has, therefore, become a major concern to the United Nations and its subsidiary unit (i.e. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) mandated to handle the affairs of refugees.
