Artificial intelligence and sexual reproductive health and rights: a technological leap towards achieving sustainable development goal target 3.7.

Target 3.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aims for universal access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services by 2030, including family planning services, information, education, and integration into national strategies. In contemporary times, reproductive medicine is progressively incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance sperm cell prediction and selection, in vitro fertilisation models, infertility and pregnancy screening.

Over-the-counter procured emergency contraception among undergraduate students in a public University in Ghana.

Background: Emergency Contraception (EC) is more popular among young people today, yet, there is little research on Over-the-counter procured EC among undergraduate students in African universities. This study's primary goal is to fill that gap.

Methods: This was an exploratory-cross-sequential study conducted in a public university in Ghana, using 145 purposively sampled sexually active undergraduate students.

Experience and perceived impact of anxiety and depression on quality of life following emergency caesarean section among women in Ghana: a qualitative study.

Objective: This study explored the experiences of women who have undergone emergency caesarean section (EmCS) and how they perceived anxiety and depression to impact their quality of life.

Design: A qualitative study grounded in the biopsychosocial model was conducted among Ghanaian women diagnosed with anxiety and depression following EmCS. Semistructured interviews were used to collect data on the psychosocial impact of EmCS on women's lives.

Is sexual autonomy a protective factor against intimate partner violence? Evidence from 27 sub-Saharan African countries.

Background: Though women in sub-Saharan Africa have increased risk of intimate sexual violence, research on the association between sexual autonomy and intimate partner violence among this population has not received the requisite attention. Consequently, we investigated if sexual autonomy is a protective factor against intimate partner violence among women in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted based on the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHSs) of 27 sub-Saharan African countries from 2008 to 2021.

Assessing geographical variation in ovulatory cycle knowledge among women of reproductive age in Sierra Leone: Analysis of the 2019 Demographic and Health Survey.

Background: Sierra Leone has poor indicators of reproductive health and a high prevalence of unintended pregnancies. To date, no study has explored determinants of ovulatory cycle knowledge in Sierra Leone. We investigated geographic region to determine where the needs for improved ovulatory cycle knowledge are greatest in Sierra Leone.

Towards prevention of new COVID-19 infections in institutions of higher education: factors influencing compliance with mask-wearing among public university students in Ghana.

Background: Ghana's mask-wearing compliance with COVID-19 prevention protocols has not been as impressive among the general population. In this study, we examined factors influencing compliance with mask-wearing among public university students in Ghana to make recommendations for the prevention of new COVID-19 infections in public universities.

Methods: We conducted this Census in a public university in Ghana between January and December 2022.

Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers' knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality.

Objectives: We examined teachers' knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraception by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality.

Methods: This was an explorative, analytical cross-sectional study using the mixed-method approach. Participants comprised 183 public and private basic school teachers and 20 school health coordinators in the study area.

Stakeholders' perceptions of the trends in contraceptive prevalence rate and total fertility rate in Ghana.

Background: Studies in Ghana have reported discrepancies between trends in Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR). Yet, there is limited empirical literature on stakeholders' perceptions on the trends in CPR and TFR in Ghana. We, therefore, examined the perceptions of key stakeholders about the documented trends in CPR and TFR in Ghana.

Sexual Coercion and Harassment of Students with Disabilities in a Public University in Ghana.

There is limited literature on sexual coercion/harassment of university students with disabilities, hence we, explored this phenomenon in Ghana, using a sequential explanatory-mixed method design that involved 119 (62 males and 57 females) students with various disabilities in the quantitative study and 12 (7 females and 5 males) students in the qualitative phase using questionnaire and interview guide for data collection respectively. We found that participants were not aware of the university's sexual coercion/harassment policy nor involved in its formulation/dissemination. Persistently asking for sexual relationships, pressurized for outings, attempted/forced kissing, being sexually looked at, engaging in uncomfortable sexual conversations, and sexually provocative touch were common.

Availability of Safe Second-Trimester Abortion Services in Health Facilities in Accra, Ghana.

Background: We examined providers, methods employed, cost, and other determinants of availability of second-trimester abortion services in health facilities in Accra, Ghana in 2019 to inform policy and program decisions.

Methods: A two-stage mixed quantitative and qualitative study designs were employed in the conduct of the study. The first stage was a short interaction of the mystery client with a clinical care provider to identify health facilities that provide second trimester induced abortion, the cost, and referral practices, where the facility did not have the service.

'Towards prevention of COVID-19 among children in Ghana: Parents' views about children wearing nose masks in public gatherings.

Objectives: The authors examined parents' views about children nose-masking in public gatherings in Ghana between January and May 2021.

Study Design: This is exploratory sequential mixed methods study comprising qualitative and quantitative components.

Methods: Four hundred and thirty-nine parents were interviewed using author-developed structured questionnaires and interview guides in a public University in Ghana.

Breastfeeding-friendly policies and programs in three public Universities in Ghana.

Background: The United Nations through its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3 and 5 has championed Women empowerment for exclusive breastfeeding through various action plans and expected the concept to be decentralized through locally mandatory implementation of various institutional policies and programs in member Countries. Using Kabeer's empowerment concept, the authors in this paper assessed availability and implementation of breastfeeding policies and programs in three public universities in Ghana.

Methods: The study design was an exploratory-descriptive-case study involving university employees and student mothers from three public universities in Ghana.

Commercial sex work among university students: a case study of four public universities in Ghana.

Background: Despite its criminalization in Ghana, commercial sex work dates back to ancient societies and occurs in various forms within communities. The authors examined commercial sex work in selected public Universities in Ghana to inform policy and program decisions for safer sex at the universities in Ghana.

Methods: The study was an exploratory-mixed-method design.

Increasing access to intrauterine contraceptive device uptake in Ghana: stakeholders views on task sharing service delivery with community health nurses.

Introduction: Evidence supporting successful task sharing to increase Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUD) uptake exist in some developing countries that have challenges with availability of trained health professionals. Although Community Health Nurses (CHNs) in Ghana are trained to provide primary health care including emergency deliveries in rural communities, they are not professionally mandated to provide IUD services.

Objectives: To explore stakeholders' views on task sharing IUD services with CHNs in Ghana.

Contraceptive Use among Basic School Pupils in Ghana: A Case Study of a Municipality.

Background: Ghana over the years strived to improve contraceptive services for young people through various policies and programs. Despite these efforts, contraceptive use among young people remains a challenge. In this study, contraceptive use among basic school pupils in a Ghanaian municipality was explored to inform policy and program decisions.

Experiences of commercial sex workers during COVID-19 restrictions in selected metropolises in Ghana.

The author examined experiences of Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) in Accra, Kumasi and Kasoa metropolises following Ghana's imposition restrictive ACT since 21 March 2020. Three trained male field assistants posing as mystery clients, purposively selected and interviewed 35 CSWs using a combination of face-to-face and telephone interviews with consenting CSWs in the study area. Findings show declined activity and patronage of CSWs due to fear of contracting COVID-19.

Implications of self-medication in pregnancy for Safe Motherhood and Sustainable Development Goal-3 in selected Ghanaian communities.

Objectives: This study explored self-medication in pregnancy and its implications for achieving Safe Motherhood and Sustainable Development Goal-3 initiatives in some Ghanaian communities.

Study Design: A facility-based cross-sectional descriptive design using mixed method approach of data collection.

Methods: Multi-staged simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to select 136 pregnant women from public Antenatal Clinics in Efutu and Agona West municipalities in the Central Region of Ghana from June to August 2018.

Examining working mothers' experience of exclusive breastfeeding in Ghana.

Background: Although substantial evidence exists on factors that influence exclusive breastfeeding, there is a general lack of qualitative studies that examine how specific workplace factors constrain or promote exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers. The current study therefore examines working mothers' experience of exclusive breastfeeding, laying emphasis on the influence of workplace factors on working mothers' decision to exclusively breastfeed their babies.

Methods: The study uses a qualitative research approach and a three-stage purposive sampling procedure to select 20 mothers from 10 organizations in five industries for in-depth interviews on their exclusive breastfeeding experience.

Self-medication among pregnant women in two municipalities in the Central Region of Ghana.

Self-medication in pregnancy is a concern in Ghana. We assessed the practice among 136 pregnant women in Effutu and Agona West Municipalities using facility-based, cross-sectional design and mixed method approach of data collection. Our findings show that pregnant women of varying backgrounds self-medicate for sociocultural and economic reasons, with 69% prevalence, motivated by cheaper treatment cost (17%), minor ailments (29%) and positive outcomes (33%).

Pregnancy options counselling in Ghana: a case study of women with unintended pregnancies in Kumasi metropolis, Ghana.

Background: Pregnancy crisis mismanagement has contributed to maternal deaths and illnesses globally and in Ghana due to absence/inadequate pregnancy options counselling for clients to make informed decisions. This study examines options counselling for abortion seekers in health facilities in Ghana.

Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study design was done in selected specialised public and NGO health facilities within Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana, using self-administered structured questionnaires for data collection from 1st January to 30th April, 2014.

Family planning among undergraduate university students: a CASE study of a public university in Ghana.

Background: Globally, the rate of unplanned pregnancies among students at institutions of higher education, continue to increase annually despite the universal awareness and availability of contraceptives to the general population. This study examined family planning among undergraduate university students focusing on their knowledge, use and attitudes towards contraception in the University of Education Winneba.

Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey using a structured self-administered questionnaire.

Institutional support for breastfeeding in Ghana: a case study of University of Education, Winneba.

Objectives: This study explored institutional support for breastfeeding student-mothers in the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. It also examined challenges associated with combining academic work with breastfeeding and childcare.

Results: Findings show that although the University as an institution does not have any formal system in place to support breastfeeding among student-mothers, it does follow the provisions made for breastfeeding under the maternity protection section of the labor Act (Act, 651) for its employees.

Use and discontinuation of intrauterine contraceptive device in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.

Background: The intrauterine contraceptive device is one of the modern long-acting and reversible contraception that is very safe and effective. Yet, less than 2 % of women are using intrauterine devices in Ghana. This study therefore explored the experiences and barriers to intrauterine contraceptive device use and discontinuation in Greater Accra Region, Ghana.

Decision-Making for Induced Abortion in the Accra Metropolis, Ghana.

Decision-making for induced abortion can be influenced by various circumstances including those surrounding onset of a pregnancy. There are various dimensions to induced abortion decision-making among women who had an elective induced abortion in a cosmopolitan urban setting in Ghana, which this paper examined. A cross-sectional mixed method study was conducted between January and December 2011 with 401 women who had undergone an abortion procedure in the preceding 12 months.