Assessing the Availability and Utilisation of Adolescent Reproductive Health Services in Northern Region of Ghana

Abstract

Youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services involved range of Sexual and Reproductive Health services that are delivered to the specific needs, vulnerabilities, and desires of young people. This study aims to determine the availability and utilization of adolescent sexual and reproductive health services among youths in selected districts and municipalities in the Northern Region of Ghana. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was conducted in four selected districts using a mixed method of quantitative and qualitative approaches to data collections. Both male and female adolescent and young person aged 10-24 years were selected by simple random sampling through balloting. Convenient sampling was used to select four health workers for interviews. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and qualitative analysis was done using manual thematic analysis. The qualitative data was collected using an unstructured interview guide and analysed with thematic analysis. Findings showed average age was 16.64 years, and 70.5% had good knowledge score of SRH services availability. Types of SRH services provided include counselling and education on SRH issues, STIs screening, diagnosis, and management. About 69.8% have ever visited the health facilities for SRH service, and 36.1% covered more than an hour before accessing SRH services. About 21% had access contraceptives and family planning services. Barriers to accessing SRH services were attributed to; cost of healthcare (21.9%), long queues at facilities (15.3%), and distance to healthcare facility (12.4%). Associated factors were sex (OR = 1.72; 95%CI 1.16-2.57; p = 0.007), father educational attainment (OR = 2.03; 95%CI 1.35-3.03; p = 0.0001), and district of residence (OR = 5.72; 95%CI 2.01-16.25; p = 0.0005). Most adolescents and young people from the study findings had increased knowledge score on the types and availability of SRH services in the district health facilities. But utilization of the SRH services was low because, the point of delivery of these SRH services were far, and most have to cover long distance. Keywords: Adolescent, Availability, Utilization, Reproductive Health Service, Ghana.