| dc.description.abstract | Background: Reproductive health programming is never easy, but provision of effective care to populations affected by conflict and complex emergencies poses special challenges (McGinn T & Purdin S, 2004). The International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 1994) and the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995) marked a policy shift for both reproductive health and refugee health.
Despite strengthened international interest and policy frameworks, implementation remains difficult (UNHCR, 2006 & McGinn T, 2000).
Objective: The objective of the study was to establish the factors influencing utilization of reproductive health services among refugees at Inter Aid Uganda. It was conducted among refugees in the age group 12 – 49 years of age accessing services at Inter Aid Uganda, Kampala District.
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study. Simple random sampling was employed. Questionnaires were administered to 372 refugees aged between 12 - 49 years accessing services at Inter Aid Uganda.
Results: 152 ( 40.9%) of respondents had ever utilized reproductive health services, this could be attributed to low levels of awareness of the benefits of reproductive health services among the refugees at Inter Aid Uganda and 220 ( 59.1%) had never utilized any RHS. Other factors that were found to be influencing utilization of reproductive health services were: RHS being helpful (OR 3.18; CF 1.99 - 5.07), continued use of RHS (OR 1.82; CF 1.17 - 2.83) and benefits of RHS (OR 0.98; CF 0.04 - 2.64)
Conclusion: Utilization of reproductive health services among the refugees is still low among the refugees accessing services at Inter Aid Uganda. RHS being helpful, continued use of RHS and benefits of RHS were factors associated with utilization of reproductive health services among the refugees accessing services Inter Aid Uganda. | en_US |
