A new national study led by Dr. Laud Anthony Basing from the Department of Medical Diagnostics at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, has revealed that many young Ghanaian women are unknowingly living with reproductive and sexually transmitted infections.
The research, presented at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), involved nearly 3,000 adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 from across nine regions of Ghana.
Participants were drawn from senior high schools, universities, female sex worker networks, and head porter communities.
The study showed that more than 40 percent of the participants tested positive for at least one infection, even though most had no symptoms.
Yeast infections caused by Candida were the most common, affecting over half of those tested.
The bacterial infection Chlamydia trachomatis followed closely, with one in four young women infected, alongside other cases of gonorrhoea and trichomoniasis.
Dr. Basing described the results as a wake-up call to improve sexual health awareness and routine testing among young women.
“These infections are spreading quietly because most people don’t show signs of being sick,” he explained. “We can’t wait for symptoms before acting. Early testing must become a normal part of healthcare for young women.”
He warned that untreated infections can lead to long-term problems such as infertility and pregnancy complications.
The study also highlights how limited access to testing and open conversations about sexual health are allowing infections to go undetected among Ghana’s youth.
“This is not just research; it’s about protecting the future of young women and giving them the tools to take charge of their health,” he added.
Credit: Emmanuel Kwasi Debrah
