Research Article
Conceptions of and Attitude toward Multiple Sexual Partners among Youths in Bolgatanga Municipality, Northern Ghana
Van der Geugten J1,2*, Van Meijel B1,3,4, Den Uyl MHG5 and De Vries NK2
1Faculty of Health, Sports and Social Work, Research Centre Mental Health Nursing, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2Maastricht University Medical Centre+, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care Maastricht, Netherlands
3Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, The Hague, Netherlands
4Department of Psychiatry / VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
5Faculty of Social Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Netherlands
- *Corresponding Author:
- Jolien van der Geugten
Inholland University of Applied Sciences
Faculty of Health, Sports and Social Work
- Research Centre Mental Health Nursing
P.O. Box 75068 1070 AB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tel: (+31)(0)641041806
E-mail: Jolien.vanderGeugten@Inholland.nl
Received Date: February 25, 2015; Accepted Date: February 09, 2016; Published Date: February 12, 2016
Citation: Geugten Van der J, Meijel Van B, Uyl Den MHG, Vries De NK (2016) Conceptions of and Attitude toward Multiple Sexual Partners among Youths in Bolgatanga Municipality, Northern Ghana. J Child Adolesc Behav 4:272. doi:10.4172/2375-4494.1000272
Copyright: © 2016 Van der Geugten J, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Objective: This study analyses the conceptions of and attitude toward multiple sexual partners among youths in Bolgatanga municipality, northern Ghana. Methods: Semi-structured and focus group interviews were held with 71 youths and 12 adults. Results: Youths’ multiple sexual partnerships were found to be related to various factors, including infidelity and distrust in relationships, cultural traditions such as the practice of polygyny and the importance of fertility, and modern developments such as increased school attendance and the use of new media. For boys, important motives for having multiple sexual partnerships are sexual prowess, prestige, desire, and pleasure, while for girls financial independence is important. Conclusion: The various influencing factors and the youths’ personal motives, combined with limited knowledge of SRH and risky sexual behavior prevents the youths from making well-advised and healthy choices concerning their sexual and reproductive wellbeing.
