Utilization of Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Services by Secondary School Adolescents in Serere District.

Abstract

Background Utilization of adolescent sexual reproductive health services is a global problem especially among developing countries. Serere is one of the districts in Eastern Uganda where adolescent sexual reproductive health services are not fully utilized. The level of utilization of ASRHS among secondary school going adolescents is not known in Serere district though the District health office estimated 35% among all the adolescents. This study aimed at assessing the utilization of ASRHS by secondary school adolescents in Serere district.

Methodology This was a cross sectional survey study. It was conducted in selected secondary schools in the district. Semi structured questionnaires were administered to adolescents to collect quantitative data on level of use, socio demographic, individual and health care factors affecting utilization of ASRHs and analyzed using SPPS 19.0. Qualitative data was collected from 10 key informants using key informant interview guide and analyzed manually using a master sheet.

Results A total of 337 out of 385 targeted respondents and 10 key informants were interviewed. The use of ASRHS among secondary school adolescents was very low at 16%. This was affected by; Class of study - adolescents in S5-S6 were less likely to utilize the ASRHS (OR= 0.27, CI= 0.11-0.65 and P= 0.004) and religion - Muslim were less likely to use ASRHS (OR= 0.24, CI= 0.08-0.75 and P= 0.014). Factors that promoted use of ASRHS included; Knowledge of ASRHs (OR=2.37, CI=1.29 - 4.32 and P= 0.005) and peer influence (OR= 0.22, CI= 0.06-0.79 and P= 0.020). The attitude of healthcare givers also affected use of ASRHS among the users, specifically those who reported that the attitude of the health workers was moderate were likely to use ASRHs (OR= 2.01, CI=1.02-3.98 and P=0.045). Conclusion In Serere district, the use of ASRHS among secondary school adolescents is extremely low, lack of awareness, individual factors and poor attitude among the health care providers are to blame for the under-utilization of ASRHs .

Recommendation Overall there is a need to scale up ASRHs so that they are accessible to all adolescents and there is a need to make the ASRHS friendly to attract the adolescents.