Assessment of knowledge and utilization of youth friendly health service among adolescents (15-19) in Addis Ababa
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Date
2016-06
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Background: Several reproductive health challenges confront adolescents (10-19 years) globally
and are more pervasive in developing countries where services and facilities are absent. An
estimated 1.3 million adolescent girls and 780,000 adolescent boys are living with HIV
worldwide, and 79 percent of new HIV infections among adolescents are in Sub-Saharan Africa.
With 104 births per 1,000 women aged 15-19, Ethiopia’s high adolescent birth rate was likely
associated with the low use of modern contraceptives. Regardless of the interventions put in
place for adolescents as a response for reproductive health needs of adolescents in Ethiopia
adolescent and youths are still facing reproductive health challenges; furthermore knowledge and
utilization of the youth friendly reproductive health service in available places has not been
assessed in an all inclusive manner.
Objectives: To assess knowledge and utilization of youth friendly reproductive health service
among adolescents in Addis Ababa.
Method: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in a randomly selected 5 sub
cities in Addis Ababa. Data was collected from 755 adolescents aged 15-19 through structured
questioner. Data was coded cleaned and entered using EPI data 3.1 and transported to STATA
12.1 for analysis. Descriptive analysis of respondents was done. A bivariate analysis was done
identify factors associated with utilization of youth friendly reproductive health service and
reproductive health knowledge those with a P<0.25 were moved to multivariate analysis to
identify their significance with the dependent variables; those with P< 0.05 were taken as
independent factors affecting utilization of YFRHS.
Result: – Three hundred ninety eight (52%) of the adolescents had knowledge about
reproductive health. Age (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.28-3.73), sex (AOR = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.62,
3.97) and radio as a means of communication (AOR = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.44, 4.81) were associated
with reproductive health knowledge. Three hundred twenty four(42.9%) of the adolescents had
ever used reproductive health services including counseling, IEC/BCC material, family planning,
sexually transmitted infections treatment, abortion and post abortion care. Reproductive health
services utilization was significantly associated with age (AOR = 1.99, 95% CI:1.3,3.05) , source
of information being HEW (AOR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1, 2.69) and awareness IEC/BCC
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service(AOR=1.9 95%CI: 1.24,2.9). “Not needing the service”, lack of information about the
service, inconvenient working hour of the facility and embarrassment to ask for the service
were the main reasons mentioned for not using youth friendly reproductive health service.
Conclusion and recommendation: Both reproductive health knowledge and services utilization
is low amongst adolescents in Addis Ababa .Factors like age, sex, having access to radio were
factors that determined reproductive health knowledge of adolescents while age, source of
information about YFRHS being health extension worker and awareness of services like
IEC/BCC and post abortion care as components were factors that determined utilization. A
platform where adolescents could get quality information, concerning reproductive health should
be created; in addition urban health extension program that is integrated in schools should be
strengthened.
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Assessment of knowledge and utilization of youth friendly