Abstract:
Background: Adolescent girls are at the highest risk of maternal mortality compared to women
in their twenties and reproductive health service utilization among adolescent females is lower
when compared with other age groups in Ethiopia. But there was no study that assessed the
factors associated with female adolescent reproductive health service utilization in the study
area.
Objectives: The study was aimed to assess the reproductive health service utilization and
associated factors among female adolescents of district, 2016.
Methods: Community based cross sectional study was conducted from March 12-29/2016 in
Kache-birra district, Kambata-Tambaro zone, South Ethiopia. Data were collected from sample
of 844 female adolescents in 8 randomly selected kebeles. A pretested structured interview was
used to collect the data. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was also carried
out to assess the association and effect of independent variables on the dependent variable and to
control confounding effects of variables respectively. Statistical significance was declared by
95% confidence interval of odds ratio.
Results: Out of 844 participants interviewed 812 completely responded making a response rate
of 96.2%. The mean age of respondents was 15.47 years. In this study, 383(47.2%, 95% CI:
43.7-50.6%) of the female adolescents utilized the reproductive health services. Female
adolescent reproductive health service utilization was significantly associated with, living with
both parents (AOR=9.63, 95% CI: 1.237- 74.983), age 15-19 years (AOR=3.295, 95% CI: 1.411-
7.696), excellent attitudes of health providers (AOR=3.816, 95% CI: 1.561- 9.324) and adequate
consultation time (AOR=2.450, 95% CI: 1.178- 5.094).
Conclusions and recommendations: This study showed a low level of female adolescent
reproductive health service utilization. Age, living arrangement, attitude of reproductive health
service providers and consultation time in the nearby health facilities were significantly
associated with female adolescent reproductive health service utilization. Therefore, the district
health office should improve the attitude of service providers by giving training and health
facilities should provide the service with enough classes and providers in order to improve the
consultation time.
