The Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD) is urging the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to implement a series of recommendations aimed at improving sexual and reproductive health (SRH) access for the deaf community in Ghana, as outlined in a position paper presented at a stakeholder forum in Accra on April 16, 2025.
The forum brought together representatives from the Ghana Health Service, the National Health Insurance Authority, academia, the disability community, and the media to discuss findings from a GNAD-led research project and explore solutions to identified challenges.
Prof. Wisdom Mprah of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) led the research and presented its findings at the forum, held at the Sunlodge Hotel in Accra.
The research, a gap analysis of SRH among deaf people in Ghana, was conducted in the Upper East, Upper West, Northern, and Eastern regions of Ghana, involving 408 participants (180 males and 228 females).
The study employed a descriptive and quantitative approach, using questionnaires to assess knowledge and satisfaction with SRH services. The research was ethically conducted, and designed to “assess the impact of the activities GNAD and its partners have been undertaking to bridge the knowledge gap” and improve SRH outcomes for deaf individuals.
Findings from the research were compiled into a position paper, released in September 2024.
The position paper notes that GNAD, as a Deaf Rights Advocacy organisation representing over 470,737 people with various degrees of hearing loss (according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census), carried out the SRH project with support from Amplify Change.
The paper commends the MoH and GHS for their efforts in providing SRH services to Ghanaians, but emphasises that significant barriers remain for the deaf community.
While acknowledging the contributions of civil society organisations in strengthening access to SRH services, GNAD stresses the need for a specific focus on minority groups often missing in existing programmes.
GNAD’s position paper highlights communication challenges with healthcare staff, lengthy waiting times, and low literacy levels as key obstacles hindering deaf individuals’ access to inclusive, stigma-free SRH services. These barriers can lead to miscommunication, stress, and delayed care.
Key findings from GNAD’s analysis reveal:
• Knowledge Gaps: Despite some participants demonstrating high knowledge levels, gaps persist in understanding critical SRH issues. The paper cites persisting stigmatizing attitudes towards individuals with HIV/AIDS and an inability to correctly identify protective measures against HIV infection and pregnancy as examples.
• Reliance on Informal Sources: Many deaf individuals rely on friends and family for information, which may be inaccurate or incomplete due to language barriers and a lack of proficiency in sign language among family members. The research indicated that family members are one of the highest sources of SRH information.
• Critical Service Gaps: Gaps were identified in some areas of SRH, particularly among women. The research also revealed that over half of the respondent had sex in the last 6 months, although just a small minority had visited SRH center over that time period.
To address these challenges, GNAD’s position paper makes the following urgent recommendations:
• Establish Disability Support Desks in Hospitals: GNAD recommends that Regional Health Directorates establish Disability Support Desks in selected hospitals, staffed by trained social welfare officers or information desk staff, to guide deaf patients through the hospital system.
• Exempt Deaf Patients from Queues: GNAD recommends that hospitals implement policies to exempt Deaf patients from general queues or provide them with alternative means to avoid delays, recognising that they often miss their turn because they cannot hear their names being called.
• Work with Volunteer Sign Language Interpreters: GNAD urges the government to prioritise Deaf patients accompanied by Sign Language Interpreters (SLIs), allowing interpreters to assist efficiently and return to their other responsibilities, recognising that GNAD has invested in training SLIs who are willing to volunteer.
• Promote Effective Identification of Deaf Patients’ Folders: GNAD recommends that all hospitals use respectful, clear labels, such as “Patient is Deaf,” on folders in manual record systems and include a specific identifier in digital records to help healthcare providers immediately recognise a patient’s communication needs.
• Sensitize Healthcare Workers on Disabilities: GNAD recommends a comprehensive in-house orientation programme for healthcare staff on how to communicate effectively with Deaf individuals—whether through interpreters, writing, or other preferred methods—to equip them with the skills to provide respectful, inclusive, and quality care to Deaf patients.
GNAD urges the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service to implement these recommendations, stating that addressing these specific needs will greatly improve access to SRH and general healthcare services for the Deaf community.
About the GNAD:
The Ghana National Association of the Deaf is the national organisation of Deaf People in Ghana. GNAD is the mouthpiece of deaf people and works to ensure that every deaf person in Ghana enjoys the right to a life of dignity. The organisation seeks to achieve an active and productive deaf community with access to education and information and steady economic activities that can sustain and maintain quality and security of life.
GNAD achieves its vision through mobilizing of members, removing communication barriers, creating awareness on deaf issues, and advocating for equal opportunities for the Deaf community. The GNAD is registered with the Registrar General Department and Social Welfare and is affiliated to the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), West and Central Africa Secretariat of the WFD, Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD), and the host organisation for WFD West and Central Africa Secretariat Transnational Capacity Building Project.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com