The Influence Health Related Factors on the Utilization of Youth Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Nakuru County, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t2466Abstract
There global drive towards support adolescents' sexual and reproductive health and rights, access to and use of these services among young people in low- and middle-income countries. However, the utilization of Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services remain inadequate, posing a major challenge to progress in this area. This study aimed to examine the health related factors that may affect the utilization of Youth-Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services among youths in Nakuru County, Kenya. About two thirds (64%, n=340) of the sampled youths were affirmative to ever- used the Youth-Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services which is considered suboptimal. The study established that utilization of Youth-Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services is significantly associated with three providers factors namely providers friendliness variable (p=0.000), respectful attitude variable (p=0.000) and providers’ active listening skills variable ( p=0.011). The study also demonstrated that utilization of Youth-Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services is significantly associated with two health system factors namely affordability of the service (p=0.001) and privacy and confidentiality variable (p=0.001). This study thus recommends that policies and programs to upscale the utilization of Youth Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services should focus on refining the health providers’ attributes or disposition such as friendliness, respectful attitude and active listening skills. Additionally this study underscores the importance of repackaging the Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services to be affordable and offered in an aura of privacy and confidentiality. Furthermore, the curriculums should include the peculiarities or sensitivity of Youth-Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in nursing or medical schools to mitigate on the provider gaps demonstrated. It is also imperative for the environment to be alive to the fact that the environment for provision of Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services be conducive, private and confidential.
Key words: utilization, Youth Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services
References
Embleton, L., Braitstein, P., Di Ruggiero, E., Oduor, C., & Wado, Y. D. (2023). Sexual and reproductive health service utilization among adolescent girls in Kenya: A cross-sectional analysis. PLOS Global Public Health, 3(2), e0001508. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0001508
Kihwele, G., Mbele, M. N., & Millanzi, W. C. (2024). Examining functional sexual and reproductive health and right-based friendly services: Perspectives from exit adolescents, caregivers, and health workers at health services delivery points in Tanzania. BMC Health Services Research, 24(1), 1357. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11725-2
KNBS. (2019). 2019 Population and Housing Census [Https://www.knbs.or.ke › reports › kenya-census-2019]. Kenya Population Census 2019.
Murigi, M. W., Mogale, R. S., & Moagi, M. M. (2020). Youth’s Perspectives on a Sustainable Model for the Provision of Youth Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Kenya: A Quantitative Approach. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 08(08), 100–115. https://doi.org/10.4236/jbm.2020.88010
Mutua, F. M., Karonjo, J., Nyaberi, J. M., Wanyoike, P. K., Kausya, J., & Mugai, F. (2020). Socio-demographic and economic factors influencing utilization of youth friendly reproductive health services among youths in selected universities in Nairobi County, Kenya. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 7(7), 2437. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20202962
National Guidelines for Provision of Adolescent Youth-Friendly Services (YFS) in Kenya. (2015).
Ninsiima, L. R., Chiumia, I. K., & Ndejjo, R. (2021). Factors influencing access to and utilisation of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review. Reproductive Health, 18(1), 135. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01183-y
Nyaga, L. N. (2023). Strategies Influencing Provision of Adolescent and Youth Friendly Services Within the Public Health Facilities in Migori County. KeMU.
Obiezu-Umeh, C., Nwaozuru, U., Mason, S., Gbaja-Biamila, T., Oladele, D., Ezechi, O., & Iwelunmor, J. (2021). Implementation Strategies to Enhance Youth-Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Reproductive Health, 3, 684081. https://doi.org/10.3389/frph.2021.684081
