Abstract
Introduction Tailoring sexual and reproductive health programs and services to the needs of adolescents will help adolescents make informed decisions and choices regarding their sexual and reproductive health. Objective To assess the opinions of service providers on tailoring sexual and reproductive health services to the needs of adolescents. Method A qualitative study using indepth interviews was held among eight decision-makers and service providers in two hospitals within the Kintampo North Municipality and Kintampo South District as well as the Municipal and District Health Directorates in Kintampo North and South between April and May 2011. Results All respondents expressed the opinion that it is a good idea to tailor sexual and reproductive health services to the needs of adolescents. They admitted that very limited sexual and reproductive health programs targeting adolescent needs were available in the study area. Service providers also reported very low levels of health facilities use by adolescents for sexual and reproductive health information and services. Health professionals attributed the poor sexual and reproductive health services utilization by adolescents to stigma from the society and attitudes of service providers. Conclusion There are no targeted sexual and reproductive health programmes and services for adolescents. Services providers indicated that it is important to tailor sexual and reproductive health services to the needs of adolescents to prevent stigma, unwanted pregnancy, abortion, and sexually transmitted infections.
Highlights
Tailoring sexual and reproductive health programs and services to the needs of adolescents will help adolescents make informed decisions and choices regarding their sexual and reproductive health
Four private clinics, seven health centres, and about 27 functional community-based health planning and services (CHPS) facilities are located in the study area
We found in our study that there were no tailored sexual and reproductive health programs and services just for adolescents
Summary
Tailoring sexual and reproductive health programs and services to the needs of adolescents will help adolescents make informed decisions and choices regarding their sexual and reproductive health. To assess the opinions of service providers on tailoring sexual and reproductive health services to the needs of adolescents. All respondents expressed the opinion that it is a good idea to tailor sexual and reproductive health services to the needs of adolescents. Services providers indicated that it is important to tailor sexual and reproductive health services to the needs of adolescents to prevent stigma, unwanted pregnancy, abortion, and sexually transmitted infections. Adolescents face a variety of health and developmental challenges; prominent among them are teenage pregnancy and the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections. At such a young age, these can affect the quality of their health as they grow. Only a few of them are able to access any form of affordable healthcare when infected [5]
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