Abstract
ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess reproductive health service utilization and its associated factors among secondary school students in Woreta town, South Gondar, North east Ethiopia 2018.ResultOut of the total 376 selected students, 345 were participated in the study with a response rate of 94%. Of these respondents, 85 (24.6%) of them utilized at least one reproductive health services in the past 1 year. Voluntary testing and counseling for HIV/AIDS and Family planning services were utilized by 47 (55.3%) and 43 (50.6%) of youths respectively. Being grade 11–12 (AOR = 5.299, 95% CI 2.019, 13.912, P = 0.001) and closeness of the service facility to their home (AOR = 2.76, 95% CI 1.168, 6.525, P = 0.021) were significantly associated with students’ reproductive health service utilization. This low service utilization might make students prone for different reproductive health risks; which in turn can increase school dropout rate, and has impact on individual’s future life as well as the country’s youth health policy from meeting its goal. Therefore, it needs a great effort and attention of all the concerned bodies including parents, school staffs, and health professionals to improve the service utilization in schools.
Highlights
Reproductive health (RH) is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being relating to the reproductive system; and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity [1]
The effects of all the efforts have not been felt across the Ethiopian learning institutions, Abate et al BMC Res Notes (2019) 12:90 as it is evidenced by persistent reproductive health problems and challenges of the youths such as unwanted pregnancy and its consequences: the rate of abortion among students was found to be 65 per 1000 women, making it threefold of the national rate of abortion for Ethiopia (23/1000 women aged 15–44); increasing prevalence of sexual transmitted infection (STI) including Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV)/acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) (19.5%) [4, 15, 16]; unmet need for family planning and over a quarter of all Ethiopian pregnant youths and adolescents feel that their pregnancies are mistimed; high rates of delivery-related complications as well as a subsequent drop-out of school for many young girls [17, 18]
Socio‐demographic characteristics of participants A total of 345 students were participated in the study with a response rate of 94%; out of this 184 (53%) were females with a mean age of 17.8 (SD ± 1.76) and almost half of them 179 (51.8%) were grade 11 and 12. 277 (80.3%) of student stated as they have discussed sex related issues with their parents in the past 1 year and Utilization of RH services by secondary school youths From the total of 345 school youths, 85 (24.6%) of them utilized reproductive health services in the past 1 year
Summary
Reproductive health (RH) is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being relating to the reproductive system; and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity [1]. Youths considered being the hope for future of one country and health condition of each individual as well as behavioral formation made during this period has impact on development of the country [1, 5]. They have unique reproductive health risks of unplanned pregnancies and childbearing; sexually. The effects of all the efforts have not been felt across the Ethiopian learning institutions, Abate et al BMC Res Notes (2019) 12:90 as it is evidenced by persistent reproductive health problems and challenges of the youths such as unwanted pregnancy and its consequences: the rate of abortion among students was found to be 65 per 1000 women, making it threefold of the national rate of abortion for Ethiopia (23/1000 women aged 15–44); increasing prevalence of STIs including HIV/AIDS (19.5%) [4, 15, 16]; unmet need for family planning and over a quarter of all Ethiopian pregnant youths and adolescents feel that their pregnancies are mistimed; high rates of delivery-related complications as well as a subsequent drop-out of school for many young girls [17, 18]
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