A new national study has uncovered alarming rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among Ghanaian adolescent girls and young women, raising concerns over a silent reproductive health crisis in the country.
The research, led by Dr. Laud Anthony Basing, of the Department of Medical Diagnostics at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), found that more than 40% of girls, aged 15 to 24 years, tested positive for at least one STI — with most showing no symptoms.
The findings, which were published on the website of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), form part of a national cross-sectional study titled “Mapping Reproductive Tract Infections among Ghanaian Youth.”
The research covered 2,978 participants from 23 institutions across nine regions, including senior high schools, universities, head porter (kayayei) communities, and female sex worker networks.
Dr. Basing said the data reveal a hidden but growing public health threat among young women, who are often unaware of their infection status.
“Many of these young women do not show signs of infection, meaning they go untreated and continue to spread STIs unknowingly. This underscores the urgent need for expanded diagnostic screening and access to affordable testing across Ghana.”
The study identified Chlamydia Trachomatis as the most prevalent bacterial STI, affecting 23.2% of participants, followed by Neisseria Gonorrhoeae (8.0%), Trichomonas Vaginalis (7.1%) and Mycoplasma Genitalium (1.4%).
It also recorded widespread Candida infections, present in 57.5% of participants. Candida Albicans accounted for 65.6% of the cases, while non-Albicans species such as C. Glabrata, C. Tropicalis and C. Krusei were also detected.
Dr. Basing, who is also the founder and CEO of Incas Diagnostics, warned that the country’s syndromic management system, which relies on visible symptoms for diagnosis, misses most infections among young women.
He urged policymakers to strengthen routine STI screening in schools and youth centres, integrate comprehensive sexual health education and invest in locally manufactured diagnostic tools to improve accessibility and reduce costs.
The KNUST Researcher, who has collaborated with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international partners, emphasised that addressing the problem requires multi-sectoral action to break the cycle of silent infections and protect the reproductive health of Ghana’s young women.
“Our findings show that we can no longer ignore the hidden burden of STIs among young women. Preventive education, early testing and access to affordable diagnostics are key to reversing this trend.”
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