title: Adolescents' Responses to an Unintended Pregnancy in Ghana: A Qualitative Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the experiences and perceptions of adolescents who have experienced a recent pregnancy and undergone a termination of pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A vignette-based focus group approach was used to have adolescents reflect on scenarios that happen to others during an unwanted pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in public health facilities in the 3 major urban areas of Ghana-Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescents, aged 10-19 years, who had a recent termination of pregnancy were recruited from public health facilities in the 3 sites. Fifteen focus groups were conducted and digitally recorded in English, Twi, Ga, and Dagbani. Transcripts were transcribed and translated, and thematic analysis was used for the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adolescents reported that the characters in the vignettes would feel sadness, depression, and regret from an unintended pregnancy and some male partners would "deny" the pregnancy or suggest an abortion. They suggested some parents would "be angry" and "sack" their children for becoming pregnant while others would "support" them. Parents might send the pregnant girl to a distant friend or grandparents until she delivers to avoid shame and gossip. Health professionals might encourage the pregnant girl or insult/gossip about the girl.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescent unintended pregnancies in Ghana are met with a range of reactions and these reactions influence the pregnancy choices young women make for continuation or termination of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Health, School of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. Electronic address: aziatol@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aziato
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Department of Reproductive Health, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michelle J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hindin
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Family and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Ernest Tei
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Maya
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Family and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Abubakar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manu
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Family and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Susan Ama
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Amuasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Organization and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Rachel Mahoe
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lawerh
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Family and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Augustine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ankomah
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000786:Anger; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000523:psychology*; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned / Q000523:psychology*; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D012752:Shame; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescent partner reaction; Emotional reaction; Focus group discussion; Ghana; Parent reaction; Partner reaction; Unintended pregnancy