Reproductive Health Services Utilization and Associated Factors Among Adolescent of Age 15-19 In Debre Birhan Town
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Date
2016-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Reproductive health care is the constellation of methods, techniques and
services that contribute to reproductive health and well-being by preventing and solving
sexual health problems. Utilization of those services is an important component in
preventing adolescents from different sexual and reproductive health problems.
Objective: This study was aimed to investigate the level of reproductive health services
utilization and associated factors among adolescents of age 15-19 who live in
DebreBirhan town, Amhara National Regional State (ANRS), Ethiopia, 2016.
Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was employed to assess
reproductive health service utilization and its associated factors by administering a pre-
tested semi-structured questionnaire from April 5 - May 1, 2016. A multi stage systematic
sampling technique was used to select a total of 648 adolescents living in 5 randomly
selected kebeles of DebreBirhan town. Data were entered and analyzed by SPSS version
21 software package. Logistic regression was done to identify possible factors associated
with reproductive health service utilization. P value less than 0.05 was considered as a
level of significance.
Results: About one-third (33.8%) of adolescents utilized at least one of reproductive
health services. Adolescents who had discussed sexual and reproductive health issues
with their sexual partner and peers were 2 times more likely to use RH services than their
counter parts (AOR= 2.368, 95% CI: 1.168-4.802 and AOR= 2.360, 95% CI: 1.155-4.820
respectively). Adolescents who weren’t co-resided with both their parents were also about
2 times more likely to utilize RH service than those who were living together (AOR= 2.570,
95% CI= 1.155-4.820). Positive perception of oneself towards acquisition of HIV/AIDS
urged the adolescents to use RH services twice than those who didn’t perceive
themselves as risky (AOR= 2.231, 95%CI: 1.001 – 4.975).
Conclusion and recommendation: Utilization of RH services among adolescents in the
study area were low. Discussion with sexual partner and peers, risk perception of oneself
towards the acquisition of HIV/AIDS was among the predictors of RH services usage.
Therefore, interventions such as advancing adolescents’ knowledge, facilitating parent to
child communication, strengthening of youth centers and school reproductive health clubs
are important steps to improve adolescent reproductive health service utilization.
Key words: Reproductive health, Service utilization, Adolescent (of age 15-19)
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Keywords
Reproductive health, Service utilization, Adolescent