Availability and Readiness of Health Facilities to Deliver Sexual and Reproductive Health Services for Young People: A Case of the “Get Up Speak Out” Programme Implemented in Western Kenya

Abstract

Young people have reported poor Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) indicators over the years including teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortion, neonatal mortality, and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDs, among others. Further, study findings have shown barriers to young people’s access to and utilization of SRH services at health facilities include lack of confidentiality and privacy, stigma and discrimination, the unfriendly and negative attitude among service providers, long waiting time for services, and lack of information among young people on availability of SRH services at the health facilities. The limited access to SRH services among young people poses greater health risks to these groups such as a high risk of sexual and gender-based violence, a higher risk of unwanted pregnancies, and unsafe abortions. It is on this basis that the researchers conducted a study aimed at assessing the availability and readiness of Health Facilities to Deliver SRH Services for Young People in its implementation sites. A full-coverage survey across all 24 link health facilities of the Get Up Speak Out (GUSO) program implementation was conducted in May 2020 adopting an electronic approach in adherence to the MOH Covid-19 preventive guidelines. The study shows the alignment of health facilities’ activities with the Youth Friendly Services (YFS) guidelines, such as staff YFS training, YFS time allocation, and meaningful youth participation in governance and decision-making structures. However, the study has highlighted gaps such as inadequate display of SRH information; inadequate engagement and adoption of young people’s recommendations in health facilities’ governance structures for improved delivery, access, and uptake of SRH services by young people.