Abstract
Background Evidence shows that services for youths are poorly coordinated and uneven in quality. There is a lack of evidence which informs the level of youth-friendly service quality in the study area. So, this study fills the information gaps and recommends practical solutions. Objective The main aim of the study was to assess youth-friendly service quality and associated factors at public health facilities in Arba Minch town, Southern Ethiopia. Methods Facility-based quantitative cross-sectional study supplemented with the qualitative design was conducted from September to December 2017 at two public health centers in Arba Minch town. Sample sizes of 403 young clients were included in the study using a systematic sampling technique. Data was collected by using an interview-administered questionnaire and observation checklist. Quantitative data analysis was made using SPSS version 20.0 to identify the association between the dependent and independent variables. Qualitative findings were coded and analyzed by using content analysis in Microsoft Excel. Finally, results are presented using narrations, tables, and figures. Results A total of 403 youth-friendly service clients participated in the study. The overall score input, process, and youth clients' satisfaction was 54.41%, 42.0%, and 49.1%, respectively. Age (15-19) [AOR (95% CI) = 3.2 (1.4-7.8)], employment [AOR (95% CI) = 6.4 (2-17)], place of YFS [AOR (95% CI) = 0.35 (0.1-0.8)], frequency of visit [AOR (95% CI) = 0.03 (0.0-0.3)], waiting time [AOR (95% CI) = 0.02 (0.0-0.09)], and comfort with providers' sex [AOR (95% CI) = 0.07 (0.02-0.2)] were factors which are significantly associated with client satisfaction in this study. Conclusion and Recommendation The study revealed that the overall quality of youth-friendly health service is below-set criteria (not good quality) in its all components, i.e., structural, process, and output. So, improvement of facility setup, client-provider interaction, and service sensitivity to all young groups and waiting time of services is essential.
Highlights
Evidence shows that services for youths are poorly coordinated and uneven in quality
Age is significantly associated with Youth-Friendly Services (YFS) satisfaction, in that respondents within the age group of 15-19 were 3.2 times more likely to be satisfied with YFS compared to those within the age group of 20-24 years [AOR = 3.2 (1.47.8)]
Clients who waited for services for more than one hour are 98% less likely to be satisfied with YFS compared to those who waited for less than thirty minutes [AOR = 0.02 (0.0-0.09)]
Summary
Evidence shows that services for youths are poorly coordinated and uneven in quality. There is a lack of evidence which informs the level of youth-friendly service quality in the study area. The main aim of the study was to assess youth-friendly service quality and associated factors at public health facilities in Arba Minch town, Southern Ethiopia. A total of 403 youth-friendly service clients participated in the study. Adolescents and young people ages 10 to 24 are the largest groups ever to be entering adulthood in Ethiopian history making up 30% of total population [3]. This group faces different health problems due to health services associated, social and cultural barriers [1]
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