Negative reproductive health (RH) outcomes appear to be associated with inadequate
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Date
2016
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Negative reproductive health (RH) outcomes appear to be associated with inadequate use of RH
services and difference in the use of RH services among different demographic and socioeconomic
groups. Women beggars are at increased risk of RH problems because of multiple factors. Moreover,
little is known about reproductive health service utilization by those disadvantaged section of the
society. Assessing the RH problems of those women and their RH service utilization is critical for
timely intervention.
Objective:
To assess reproductive health service utilization and associated factors among women beggars in the
reproductive age group in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods:
A quantitative cross-sectional based study was conducted from September 2015 to May 2016 in
Addis Ababa. The study was conducted on 351 women beggars of reproductive age group using an
interviewer administered structured questionnaire. Data were entered in to Epi-Info (version 7) then,
exported to SPSS (version 20) for cleaning and analysis. Bivariate analysis was used to identify
independent variables that are associated with the outcome variable (RH service utilization). Those
significant variables in the bivariate analysis were taken to multiple logistic regression analysis to
determine the independent effect of each variable on the outcome variable.
Results:
Among the study participants majority were 35 years or younger (80%), divorced/separated (40.5%)
and illiterate (64%). About 72% and 29% of women beggars had the first sexual encounter and the
first pregnancy, respectively, at the period of adolescence. Women who reported ever use of modern
contraceptives were 231(65.8%) and those who were using contraceptives at time of data collection
were 130(37%). Forty one (11.7%) of women beggars had history of rape and (36.9%) women
encountered unwanted pregnancy at least once in their life time.
Two-third (66%) of women beggars reported utilization of reproductive health services. There were
statistically significant association between reproductive health service utilization and marital status,
having disability and information about reproductive health issues.
The odds of reproductive health service utilization among women who were currently unmarried
(never married/widowed) was 63% times lower than women who were married [AOR= 0.37(0.19-
0.72)]. The odds of reproductive health service utilization among women who had disability was
about 60% lower than women who had no disability or chronic illness [(AOR=0.39(0.21-0.74)].On
the other hand reproductive health service utilization by women beggars who had no information
about reproductive health services was 76% times lower than those beggar women who had
information [AOR=0.24(0.13-0.44)].
Conclusions and Recommendation:
Early first sexual encounter, early marriage, unintended pregnancy and STI including HIV/ADIS
were identified as major reproductive health problems of women beggars. Two-third of women
beggars had health service utilization for any reproductive health services. Being disabled and lack of
reproductive health service information are strong predictors of non-use of reproductive health
services among women beggars. Increasing/strengthening information provision about reproductive
health among women beggars, addressing disability related problems and further researches are
recommended.
Key words: RH problems, RH service utilization, women beggars
Description
Keywords
RH problems, RH service utilization, women beggars