Reproductive health services utilization and associated factors among adolescents in anchar district, west hararghe zone, oromia region, east Ethiopia

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.