Abstract:
Back ground: Adolescence generally is a healthy period of life; but many adolescents are less
experienced, less informed, and less comfortable in utilizing reproductive health services than
adults. However, reproductive health programmes which are available to fill this gap tend to
serve primarily urban populations, so the vast majority of young people in the rural areas of
Ethiopia remain underserved.
Objective: The objective was to assess reproductive health service utilization and associated
factors among adolescents in Anchar District, West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Region, East
Ethiopia.
Methods: A community based cross-sectional study using quantitative and qualitative method of
data collection was applied. Simple random sampling method was used for quantitative and
Purposive sampling technique used for qualitative. A total of 402 adolescents were interviewed
using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Additionally four focus groups and ten in-depth
interviews were conducted. Data were entered into EPI data version 3.1 and then transferred to
SPSS version 16.0 for further analysis. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were done for
associated factors with reproductive health utilisation at P-values <0.05 and results were
presented by tables and graphs. Qualitative data was transcribed compiled manually and result
was presented by narration.
Result: Forty two (39.3%) female adolescents have ever used family planning; contraceptive
uses during first and last sexual intercourse was thirty four (31.8%) and twenty two (20.6%)
respectively. From total respondents only one hundred eight four (45.8%) adolescents have ever
used VCT services. Fifteen have experienced at least one STI symptom; among them ten have
visited health services for treatment. Orthodox Christian followers were three and half times
more likely to use family planning than females (AOR=3.45, C.I=1.23,9.68) and those ever
discussed about family planning were seven times more likely to use the service than their
counterparts 7.03(2.54,19.48). Males were five times more likely to ever use VCT than females
(AOR=5.25,C.I=1.07,25.87) and those perceive themselves as high risk for HIV were eight times
more likely to ever use VCT than their counterparts( AOR=8.22, C.I=1.065,35.49).
Conclusion: More than half of adolescents were not utilizing reproductive health regarding to
family planning, and VCT services. Thus, intensified effort is needed to increase utilization of
these reproductive health services for adolescents. There should be health promotion activities in
every area, to reach different segments of community and improve utilization.
