Factors Influencing Utilisation of Reproductive Health Services Among Adolescents Aged 12-19 Years Inmbarara Municipality Schools

ABSTRACT Complications of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion are the leading causes of disability and death among adolescents especially girlsbetween ages 15-19 years. The study focused onassessing the factors influencing the utilization of Reproductive Health Services among adolescents aged (12-19 years) in Mbarara Municipality schools. A sample of 100 respondents was enrolled in the study using systematic random sampling. A cross sectional descriptive study design was used in two Government Aided Secondary Schools that is; Nyakayojo secondary school and Mbarara secondary anda simple random sampling technique was used to select schools and classfor the study. The study indicatedmass media (31.8%) as a major source of information about RHS.Most adolescents indicated that they faced huge barriers including long distances to travel to health facilities while incurring high transport costs, harsh service providers, spending long hours in lines and lack of confidentiality also inclined them from accessing RHS thus causing them to miss some of these reproductive health services. Therefore service providers extend operational time beyond official working hours, have good attitude towards adolescents who are seeking RHS and should provide privacy. The Government should alsoincrease the number of health units offering RHS to adolescents which can reduce on congestion, long queues and travelling long distances thus attracting more adolescents