Utilisation Of Youth-Friendly Health Services Among Adolescents In The Tema Metropolis

ABSTRACT

Background: Adolescents are generally a healthy cohort but many of the health-related behaviours and conditions that arise during this period have implications for both present and future health development. The provision of Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Health Services most especially, sexual and reproductive health services is a key strategy for improving the health of this cohort, yet there is lack of empirical data on the extent of utilisation of youth-friendly services since its adaptation some two decades ago. It is against this backdrop that this study was designed to explore the utilisation of Youth Friendly Health Services among adolescents (10-19 years). Method: The study was a community-based cross-sectional design using structured questionnaire and an interview guide. A multistage sampling technique with probability proportional to size was used to sample 806 adolescents aged 10 to 19 years. Data were analysed using frequencies and logistic regression in STATA version 14. Results: The study found that the utilisation of Youth-friendly health service facilities among adolescents in the Tema Metropolis is estimated at 12.3% and about 43.3% went there for general counselling and health information service. The study also revealed that about 23.5% have comprehensive knowledge about HIV and AIDS and the most preferred contraceptive method among adolescents is condoms (68.7%). Friends and peers were the main sources of information about sexual and reproductive health information as well as youth-friendly health services. The main barrier to utilisation of youth-friendly health service is the lack of awareness of these facilities among adolescents. In addition, reasons noted for not utilising these services v among those who knew about its availability where the distance to the service delivery point from their place of abode, do not have the need for the services, financial barrier amongst others. A multivariate analysis showed adolescents with risky sexual behaviour were about 1.47 times (AOR=1.47, 95% CI 1.10, 1.96) most likely to use YFHS than those with non-risky sexual behaviour; and those with comprehensive knowledge about correct condom use were 2.77 times (AOR=2.77, 95% CI 1.36, 5.61) most likely to use YFHS than those with poor comprehensive knowledge about correct condom use. Conclusion: In general, utilisation of youth-friendly health service facilities among adolescents is low. Factors associated with utilisation of youth-friendly health services were risky sexual behaviour and comprehensive knowledge about correct condom use. The major barrier to utilization was lack of awareness of these facilities and services among adolescents. Re-orientation of the health service delivery system to improve on adolescentresponsive health service delivery and the need for multi-sectorial approach and diverse strategy to create demand and encourage adolescents to utilise youth-friendly health services are needed.