| dc.description.abstract | Introduction: It is important to note that adolescents and the youths form the backbone of economic development of any country their health is a worthwhile investment for the growth and development, yet they are highly vulnerable to conditions and issues which are reproductive health in nature and they are preventable, yet little is done. This attracted the researcher to carry out a study which was guided by specific objectives that included; determining the level of utilization of the Reproductive Health
Services among adolescents aged 14-19 years in Maddu Sub County, identifying demographic, socio- economic and health facility system factors affecting the utilization of the Reproductive Health Services among adolescents aged 14-19 years in Maddu Sub County.
Methodology: The study used a cross sectional research design that employed quantitative methods for data collection and analysis. A sample size of 382 respondents who were adolescents was selected using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using a questionnaire.
Results: Findings indicated that out of the 382 respondents, a few 118 (31%) utilized Reproductive Health Services. Social demographic factors were; primary education (AOR=63.24, 95% CI: 5.83-685.41, P=0.001), secondary education (AOR=38.40, 95% CI: 7.01-210.38, P=0.001), tertiary education (AOR=7.45, 95% CI: 1.70-32.71, P=0.008), widows (AOR=0.04 95% CI: 0.01-0.39, P=0.005) and being in school (AOR=99.81, 95% CI: 0.06-0.63, P=0.006). Social economic factors; never felt stigmatized to seek RHS (AOR=23.16, 95% CI: 3.37-159.18, P=0.001), found accessing RHS unaffordable (AOR=0.11, 95% CI: 0.04-0.27, P=0.001) and not staying with their parents (AOR=13.88, 95% CI: 4.24-45.43, P=0.001). Health system factors included not having received information on RHS on a routine basis (AOR=30.36, 95% CI: 5.51-167.41, P=0.001) and not
having mobile and flexible RHS in the area were less likely to utilize RHS (AOR=0.018, 95% CI:0.003-0.096, P=0.001).
Conclusion: There was low utilization of Reproductive Health Services where a third of the adolescents utilized them. Utilization of RHS was associated with having low levels of education, being in single and being in school, not feeling stigmatized to seek RHS, afford ability to RHS in terms of costs and distance to the facility and not staying with parents, having received information on RHS on a routine basis and having mobile and flexible RHS in the area were less likely to utilize RHS. | en_US |
