Family Planning and Reproductive Health Services in Ghana

The second most populous country in the West African subregion, Ghana is plagued by a population growth rate that far exceeds its economic growth rate. Hence, comprehensive action in family planning is needed to improve the country's social and economic well-being. Although studies on family planning and reproductive health are not lacking, the information is scattered. This annotated bibliography compiles the existing works on family planning and reproductive health in Ghana into a single resource guide. Every effort has been made to include all scholarly works, books, chapters in books, conference papers, discussion papers, periodical literature, public documents, thesis and dissertations, and technical reports, thereby providing scholars and practitioners with quick access to a wide range of research materials.

The book is arranged into six topical chapters. Chapter one covers population dynamics, with a focus on general population characteristics and trends in population growth through fertility, mortality, and migration. Chapter two lists works on general reproductive behavior and contraception, including attitudes toward fertility, fertility preference, men's role in contraception and contraceptive devices. Chapter three includes works dealing with family planning program development and evaluation. Chapter four turns to factors other than contraception affecting fertility, such as breast-feeding, sexual practice, maternal age, birth intervals, nuptiality, sex roles, and sex preference. Chapter five is devoted to studies concerning primary health services, such as health delivery systems, child and maternal health, nutrition, traditional birth attendants, disease, and abortion. The final chapter covers general population policy and legislation.

YAW OHENEBA-SAKYI is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the State University of New York College at Potsdam. His research interests include social demography of Africa, family studies, and racial/cultural minorities. His recent publications have appeared in Journal of Asian and African Studies, Journal of Biosocial Science, Human Biology, Journal of Comparative Family Studies, and Sociological Perspectives. Currently, he is undertaking a study on the impact of female autonomy on contraception and fertility behavior in contemporary Ghana.