Meet Anita, a Midwife from Ghana

By Seema Jalan

An estimated 20 million adolescent women want to prevent pregnancy but are not using a modern form of contraception. Around the world, young people are advocating in their communities for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.

Meet Anita, 24, Ghanaian:

As a midwife, Anita has a first-hand view of sexual and reproductive health and rights in Ghana.

“In Ghana, we have a wide gap to bridge in the area of contraceptive usage,” said Anita. “Teenagers in Ghana are getting pregnant and as a result their education is halted, their lives are at risk, and some even die from illegal abortions.”

“About a month ago, I had a certain case at the labor ward,” she explained. “It was a young girl aged 18 years who had had an abortion … the baby couldn’t come out readily and she was rushed in to the ward. This young girl could have lost her life from such an unsafe abortion.”

In Anita’s community, misconceptions and misinformation about contraception prevent some girls and women from using it. Both men and women, she said, think of contraceptives as “medications” that can impact future fertility. Anita takes the time to combat these myths with women who visit her health center, but faces challenges in uprooting long-held and deep-seated misinformation.

“I think a larger platform like renowned TV stations or radios can feature programs that will explain this to the general public,” said Anita. “Religious bodies can also take up the task of advocating for family planning [access].”

Anita began advocating for sexual and reproductive health and rights when she was studying midwifery. Now, two years into her career, she continues to counsel her clients on their contraception options and helps them make choices for their families and futures.

“You see them, and they are literally planning their lives and living very well and the satisfaction I get from the fact that my message has been put across is very fulfilling,” said Anita.

Access to quality sexual and reproductive health information and services is a fundamental human right and a key intervention to enable young people everywhere to pursue an education, launch a career, and control their futures. Learn more about the Universal Access Project and get involved at www.universalaccessproject.org.