Reproductive health service utilization and associated Factors among female adolescents in kachabirra District, south ethiopia: a community based cross Sectional study

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.