Youth-friendly Health Services Research Articles

Youth-friendly health service in Ethiopia: Assessment of care friendliness and user's satisfaction.

Health facilities' level of readiness to provide adolescent and youth-friendly health services (AYFHS) is crucial for preventing and reducing teenage pregnancies and maternal mortality. This study examined friendliness and satisfaction with AYFHS among users. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 419 adolescents and youths recruited from six health institutions in the East Shewa Zone, Oromia region, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from August 1 to October 28, 2022. Based on the WHO Quality Assessment Guidebook, the friendliness of AYFHS was evaluated as a proxy for the quality of care. Descriptive measures were computed to summarize the participants' socio-demographic characteristics. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the potential association between each independent variable and client satisfaction. The type, magnitude, and precision of association were presented using an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) and a p-value of < 0.05 ascertained statistical significance. The overall friendliness was 69%: Specifically, 82% of the participants stated the service was accessible, 72% said it was acceptable, and 90% thought it was effective. However, only 33% and 34% of respondents reported the services were equitable and appropriate respectively. The overall satisfaction with AYFHS was 25.3%. Increased age (AOR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.57-0.86), being female (AOR = 0.11, 95%CI: 0.04-0.33), no prior information about AYFHS (AOR = 0.20, 95%CI: 0.10-0.44), and higher number of sexual partners (AOR = 0.3, 95%CI: 0.21-0.65) were factors statistically associated with client satisfaction with AYFHS. The overall quality of AYFHS was sub-optimal and did not meet the four components of WHO's good quality standards; equity, appropriateness, acceptability, and accessibility must be improved. Female and older adolescents and youths and those with a higher number of sexual partners should be targeted for intervention.

The effect of youth-friendly health services on risk of pregnancy among adolescent girls and young women in Lilongwe, Malawi: a secondary analysis of the girl power-Malawi study.

In sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 (AGYW) experience high risk of early and unintended pregnancy. We assessed the impact of youth-friendly health services (YFHS) on pregnancy risk among AGYW who participated in the Girl Power study. In 2016, Girl Power randomly assigned four government-run health centers in Lilongwe, Malawi, to provide a standard (n=1) or youth-friendly (n=3) model of service delivery. At six and 12 months, study participants (n=250 at each health center) self-reported their current pregnancy status and received a urine pregnancy test. Because of missing pregnancy test results, we used multiple imputation to correct for outcome misclassification in self-reported pregnancy status, and applied the parametric g-formula on the corrected data to estimate the effect of YFHS on the 12-month risk of pregnancy. After correcting for outcome misclassification, the risk of pregnancy under the scenario where all health centers offered YFHS was 15.8% compared to 23.2% under the scenario where all health centers offered standard of care (risk difference: -7.3%, 95% CI: -15.5%, 0.8%). Access to a model of YFHS that integrates provider training with youth-friendly clinic modifications and community outreach activities may decrease risk of pregnancy among AGYW relative to standard of care.

Characterizing models of adolescent and youth-friendly health services in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review.

This scoping review provides an up-to-date overview of the evidence on adolescent and youth-friendly health services (AYFHS) in sub-Saharan African countries. We conducted a search of four databases and grey literature sources to identify English language publications from January 1, 2005, to December 14th, 2022. The review synthesized evidence on the models and characteristics of AYFHS, the application of World Health Organization (WHO) standards, and whether AYFHS have improved young people's health outcomes. In total, 77 sources were included in the review, representing 47 AYFHS initiatives spanning 19 countries, and three multi-country reports. Most commonly, AYFHS were delivered in public health facilities and focused on sexual and reproductive health, with limited application of WHO standards. Some evidence suggested that AYFHS increased young people's health service utilization and contraceptives uptake. There is a clear need to strengthen and develop innovative and multi-pronged approaches to delivering and evaluating AYFHS in this region.

The Politics of Policy and Practices to Advance Adolescent and Youth Friendly Health Services in Nigerian States

The Politics of Policy and Practices to Advance Adolescent and Youth Friendly Health Services in Nigerian States

"It's about how you take in things with your brain" - young people's perspectives on mental health and help seeking: an interview study.

Poor mental health in young people has become a growing problem globally over the past decades. However, young people have also been shown to underutilize available healthcare resources. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has formulated guidelines for youth-friendly health services (YFHSs) to increase youth participation in healthcare. Still, little is known about how young people using these services perceive mental health, indicating a knowledge gap concerning the subjective evaluation of their mental health. To investigate how young people visiting youth health clinics (YHC) perceive the concept of mental health and factors they view as central to maintaining mental health. In total 21 interviews were carried out, 16 in 2018, and 5 in 2023 to assure no changes in findings after the COVID-19 pandemic. Subjects were recruited during visits to youth health clinics (YHCs) in mid-Sweden and were aged 15-23 years. Recruitment strived to achieve heterogeneity in the sample concerning gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and age. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings of the analysis revealed two themes, "Mental health is helped and hindered by the surroundings" and "Mental health is difficult to understand and difficult to achieve". The participants described their health as highly dependent on their social surroundings, and that these are important to maintaining health but may also affect health negatively. They described mixed experiences of the health care services and mentioned prerequisites for seeking care for mental health problems such as accessibility and respect for their integrity, including the right to turn down offered treatment. The informants also viewed mental health as an ongoing undertaking that one must work for, and that it is sometimes difficult to know what constitutes mental health. They also expressed a need from healthcare services to enquire about their health, and to show an active interest in how they are doing. Findings underline the need of young people's individual needs to be met in the healthcare system and their vulnerability to their social surroundings. Health status assessments in young people should consider social and individual factors to fully capture mental health.

Implementing Quality Improvement Initiatives to Improve the Use of Adolescent- and Youth-Friendly Health Services in Zou, Benin.

In Benin, the unmet need for family planning services is especially high for adolescent girls and youth aged 15-24 years. The Challenge Initiative (TCI) supported the health system to assess and improve the quality of adolescent and youth sexual reproductive health services and enhance contraceptive uptake in 65 service delivery points (SDPs) of the Zou department. Between June 2019 and March 2021, TCI supported the health districts in Zou to train an assessment team to complete 3 cycles of quality assessments (QAs) using a QA checklist adapted to the local context. Based on assessment scores, the SDPs were categorized into poor, moderate, or good to excellent quality. The SDP managers developed remedial action plans after each cycle and for each SDP and followed up with supportive supervision. The first QA cycle showed that 52% of assessed SDPs achieved a good to excellent classification; by the second QA cycle, this reached 74%. However, the quality of adolescent- and youth-friendly health services regressed during the third QA cycle (during COVID-19 pandemic disruptions), when only 40% of SDPs achieved the good to excellent category. Between the first and second QA cycles, contraceptive uptake for adolescents and youth improved in the SDPs that had good or excellent quality of services, compared to the ones that were of lower quality (established significance level of 5% with a P value of .031). Further assessments could deepen our understanding of the internal and external factors that can affect service quality. The findings reinforce the importance of investing in quality improvement strategies to maximize the use of sexual and reproductive health services among adolescents and youth. They also underscore the need for a contextual and nuanced approach to ensure enduring results.

Factors influencing the utilisation of Youth Friendly Health Services in Blantyre, Malawi.

Usage of Youth Friendly Health Services (YFHSs) remains unsatisfactory in sub-Saharan Africa despite global agreements on the utilisation of these services among the youths. The aim of the study was to identify factors that influence the utilisation of YFHSs in Blantyre, Malawi. Four health centres in Blantyre, Malawi. A descriptive quantitative research design using multistage sampling was used to randomly sample (N = 293) unmarried youths and collect data using a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using a computerised statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 26. Chi-square (χ²) was used to test the significance of the association between variables, and the p-value (p < 0.05) was considered significant. Regression analysis was used to examine the influence of independent variables on the utilisation of the services. Less than half of the respondents have ever accessed YFHSs (43%). The Chi-square test showed that the following variables had a significant association with utilisation of the services (p < 0.05): gender, age, knowledge, signage, printed health education materials, provider attitudes and being shy or fear of being seen at the services. Age, knowledge, signpost, printed health education materials, provider attitudes and being shy or fear of being seen at the YFHSs are factors that influenced the utilisation of the services. Working on these factors would help to increase utilisation. The study findings will help to fill the gap in the provision of YFHSs and thus increase utilisation of the services.

Factors Influencing Abortion Decision-Making of Adolescents and Young Women: A Narrative Scoping Review.

Globally, about half of all induced abortions have been estimated to be unsafe, which results in 13% of maternal deaths yearly. Of these induced abortions, 41% of unsafe abortions have been reported in young women who are dependent on their parents for their livelihood. They are often left in a vulnerable position and may have difficulty in making a decision regarding abortion. This study aimed to (1) characterize and map factors that influence abortion decision-making of adolescents and young women, and (2) identify the care and support that they need in their decision-making process. We conducted a scoping review following the JBI method and PRISMA-ScR checklist. We comprehensively searched MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PsycInfo, and hand searched publications in the Google Scholar database between November 2021 and October 2023. The search included all English language qualitative and mixed methods research articles published on the database up to October 2023 that included participants aged 10-24 years. The CASP checklist was used as a guide for the qualitative analysis. NVivo was used to synthesize the findings. There were 18 studies from 14 countries (N = 1543 young women) that met the inclusion criteria. Three domains and eleven categories were included as follows: personal (desire for self-realization and unwanted pregnancy), interpersonal (parental impact, reaction of partner, roles of peers and friends, existence of own child, and lack of support), and social circumstances (sexual crime, financial problem, limitation of choice, and underutilized healthcare services). Decision-making factors regarding abortions were also found across all three domains. The abortion decision-making of young women is influenced by various external factors regardless of country. Parents are especially influential and tend to force their daughters to make a decision. Young women experienced suffering, frustration, and lack of autonomy in making decisions based on their preference. This emphasizes the importance of autonomous decision-making. In this regard, healthcare services should be used. However, there are barriers to accessing these services. To improve such access, the following are required: staff training to provide adolescent and youth-friendly health services, counseling based on women's needs, counseling including the parents or guardians that is confidential and ethical, promotion of decision aids, and affordable accessible care.

The path towards an HIV-free generation: engaging adolescent boys and young men (ABYM) in sub-Saharan Africa from lessons learned and future directions

ABSTRACT This paper highlights the pressing need to address the HIV epidemic among adolescent boys and young men (ABYM) in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite progress in HIV prevention, ABYM still experience low diagnosis rates, treatment adherence, and linkage to care. The paper emphasizes ABYM’s vulnerability due to societal norms, limited healthcare access, and economic pressures. It calls for gender-responsive interventions, including comprehensive sexual education, youth-friendly health services, community engagement, and targeted outreach. Comprehensive sexual education is pivotal in HIV prevention for ABYM, providing them with age-appropriate sexual health knowledge and safer sexual practices to reduce HIV incidence. Harmful masculine norms must be countered to promote respectful relationships, benefiting boys, men, and their partners. Inadequate access to youth-friendly health services hampers HIV prevention. Establishing spaces with confidential, non-judgmental care offering testing, counselling, circumcision, and provision of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is essential, especially considering ABYM’s unique clinic experiences. Engaging communities, leaders, educators, and peers combats stigma and discrimination. ABYM’s input in intervention design, targeted outreach, and innovative technology enhances effectiveness of HIV prevention programmes. Economic factors should also be addressed. Comprehensive multi-sectoral interventions, including conditional cash transfers, effective for AGYW, could benefit ABYM. Addressing structural factors alongside behaviour change and social support is key.

Which Intervention Synergies Maximize AGYW's HIV Outcomes? A Classification and Regression Tree Analysis of Layered HIV Prevention Programming.

Intersecting behavioral, social, and structural factors increase adolescent girls' (AG) and young women's (YW) HIV vulnerability. Yet, understanding of optimal intervention synergies remains limited. We identified intervention combinations that statistically maximized reductions in AGYW's HIV-related risk. Using data collected in 2018 with Zambian AG (n = 487, aged 15-19 years) and YW (n = 505, aged 20-25 years) after 12-14 months exposure to Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe (multisectoral HIV program), we used classification and regression trees to explore relationships between interventions (safe space/social asset building [SAB] and provision of/linkage to youth-friendly health services [YFHS], education social protection [Educ], economic social protection [Econ]) and HIV-related outcomes (HIV testing, consistent condom use, transactional sex, and sexual violence experience from partners and nonpartners). Overall, 59.9% completed SAB and 81.5%, 35.4%, and 29.6% received YHFS, Educ, and Econ, respectively. For AG, HIV testing improved (from 73% to 83%) with exposure to all interventions, condom use improved with Econ (from 33% to 46%), transactional sex reduced with SAB + Educ, and sexual violence from partners and nonpartners reduced with Educ and SAB, respectively. For YW, HIV testing increased with Educ (from 77% to 91%), condom use increased with SAB + YFHS (from 36% to 52%), transactional sex reduced with combinations of all interventions, and sexual violence from partners reduced with YFHS and from nonpartners with SAB + Econ. Tailored interventions might be more effective than uniform combination intervention packages in reducing AGYW's HIV risk. AG benefitted most from SAB and/or Educ while YFHS, Educ, and/or SAB reduced YW's HIV-related risk. Educational and asset-building interventions could have the greatest impact on AGYW's HIV risk.

Perceptions of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services in selected Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions of Zambia: A qualitative study on the perspectives of young people and healthcare providers.

The recognition of the need for Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Health Services (AYFHS) is growing. It is important to ensure the provision of high-quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services that cater to the unique needs of adolescents and young people (AYP). Adolescents and young people spend a significant amount of time in Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions (HTEIs) where adolescent friendly services are needed. However, there is limited evidence on the availability of sexual and reproductive health services for young people in HTEIs in Zambia. Using the Human Rights Based Approach to healthcare availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of care (AAAQ) framework, this study explores young people's perceptions of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services in selected HTEIs in Zambia. Between March and June 2021, a qualitative case study was conducted in 12 selected HTEIs located in Lusaka, Central, and Copperbelt provinces of Zambia. The study employed In-depth Interviews (IDIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with AYPs, as well as Key-informant Interviews (KIIs) with healthcare providers. The healthcare providers at health facility, district and provincial levels were interviewed to provide insights about the services provided in the HTEIs. A total of 112 interviews were conducted. Data analysis was performed using thematic analysis in NVivo version 11. In the study, young people reported the availability of primary health services like malaria, HIV, and pregnancy testing, as well as screening for STIs. However, their awareness of SRH services was limited. Contraception, STI testing and treatment, and HIV and pregnancy screening and testing were the most accessed services. Equipment and commodity shortages were common, hindering care provision. Young people found healthcare services in educational institutions inaccessible, with limited comprehensive care and understanding from providers. Services lacked tailoring for key populations and privacy/confidentiality. Health care providers also reported inadequate youth-friendly spaces, equipment, medication and trained workers which compromised the quality of care. Peer educators and provider training were seen as essential for improving accessibility and acceptability of services. The findings indicate significant barriers to the accessibility, availability, and acceptability of SRH services for AYP in HTEIs in Zambia. There is a pressing need to enhance AYSRH programming by increasing awareness of services and ensuring their availability and accessibility for young people. Sufficient funding for AYFHS can address challenges related to service quality, including inconsistent availability of medical equipment and supplies. Building the capacity of service providers can potentially enhance the uptake of services by AYP. It is crucial to target services to address the specific vulnerabilities of students with disabilities and key populations, aligning with the goal of achieving universal health coverage and leaving no one behind.

Being a woman or being a youth: what matters for young adults with chronic diseases?

Abstract Background as the prevalence of chronic diseases increases with age, most interventions focus on ‘adults’ and neglect the growing proportion of chronically ill young people aged 15-24. Although they are no longer children, they are still in a period of transition towards autonomy and independence, particularly in industrialised countries. Moreover, health care for chronic patients is criticised for neglecting gender-specific needs. This exploratory collaborative study identified needs and preferences of youths living with a chronic disease with a gender lens. Methods we conducted 24 semi-directive interviews: 12 university students living with rare or chronic diseases; 12 health care professionals (doctors, nurses and allied health professionals). We conducted a group interview with an interdisciplinary staff in hospital and a group interview in an integrated primary care centre in 2022 in Brussels, Belgium. Alongside thematic analysis of the content of the interviews, we used the group analysis method with youths and professionals to co-construct recommendations: data were analysed and discussed in several collaborative meetings. Results youths insisted that professionals should listen more to youths and be more flexible. Youths stressed the need for psychological support currently absent, support regarding educational trajectory and warm environment of care similar to paediatric settings. Professionals expressed their concerns about being more gender-friendly and their lack of training regarding gender issues and other non-medical aspects of chronic diseases. Both youths and professionals consider gender-specific needs in a larger frame of patient-centred care focusing on the integration of patient preferences in a co-constructed dialogue. Conclusions to be youth-friendly, health services should better embrace the personalised health care planning, allowing for a better inclusion of what really matters for youths, be their age or their gender. Key messages • Personnalised health care planning supports gender-friendly health services. • Personnalised health care planning supports youth-friendly health services.

What's holding back youth-friendly health services in Blantyre, Malawi? A qualitative exploration.

The use of Youth Friendly Health Services remains sub-optimal in Sub-Saharan Africa despite global agreements on the same. The aim of this study was to explore barriers to utilization of Youth Friendly Health Services in Blantyre, Malawi. This was a qualitative study drawing on three focus group discussions of youths aged 10 to 24 (N=24) and individual interviews with Youth Friendly Health Service providers from four health facilities (N=6). Thematic analysis by Braun and Clark 2006 was used to analyse collected data. Seven themes emerged from the findings: frequent stockouts of medical supplies, lack of entertainment, sporting activities and supporting equipment, lack of dedicated space for Youth Friendly Health Services, lack of knowledge, financial constraints, misconceptions, and distance to the health facilities. Addressing these barriers would increase the utilization of Youth Friendly Health Services and, in turn, increase contraceptive uptake, hence reducing unintended pregnancies and their associated complications.

Assessment of Factors Influencing Utilization of Reproductive Health Services for Adolescents and Youth in Samburu County, Kenya

Background: Globally, around 16 million teenagers give birth each year, with 95% of them coming from upcoming nations in developing nations like Kenya, youths deal with a variety of sexual and reproductive health issues. Youth in Kenya frequently experience serious health issues like unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortions, and sexually transmitted infections.&#x0D; Objective: The study aimed to assess factors influencing the use of youth-friendly reproductive health services among youths and adolescents in Samburu County, Kenya.&#x0D; Methods: The study employed an analytical cross-sectional study design. The Chi-square test for independence and binary logistic regression were employed to establish a relationship between independent and dependent variables.&#x0D; Results: From this study, the presence of a reproductive health facility (OR=2.4,95%CI=0.220-0.801) and community mobilization campaigns (OR=4.7,95%CI=0.093-0.485) increased the odds of utilizing youth-friendly reproductive health services. The presence of peer pressure (OR=2,95%CI=0.266-0.971), healthcare providers' poor attitude (OR=2.1,95%CI=0.276-0.881), and lack of privacy (OR=2,95%CI=0.290-0.974) reduced the odds of utilizing youth-friendly reproductive health services.&#x0D; Conclusion: In this study, the utilization of youth-friendly reproductive health services was 40.6%. The presence of a reproductive health facility, having visited a reproductive health facility, the presence of religious influence, and community mobilization campaigns increased the odds of utilizing youth-friendly reproductive health services. The presence of peer pressure, being male and single in the marital status category, healthcare providers' poor attitude, and lack of privacy reduced the odds of utilizing youth-friendly reproductive health services.

Understanding why and how youth-friendly health services improve viral load suppression among adolescents and young people living with HIV in Nigeria: realist evaluation with qualitative comparative analysis

IntroductionYouth-friendly health service (YFHS) approaches are essential to better outcomes for young people. We evaluated attainment of viral load suppression among young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) enrolled in an...

Using a Designathon to Develop an HIV Self-Testing Intervention to Improve Linkage to Care Among Youths in Nigeria: Qualitative Approach Based on a Participatory Research Action Framework

Background UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS) and the Nigeria National HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework recommend HIV self-testing and youth-friendly services to enhance HIV testing, linkage to health services, and prevention. However, the voices of youths are seldom incorporated into interventions. We examined qualitative data generated from a series of participatory events in partnership with Nigerian youths focused on enhancing linkage to care. Objective The aim of this study was to assess youth-initiated interventions developed during a designathon to improve linkage to care and sexually transmitted infection services. Methods This study conducted a designathon informed by crowdsourcing principles and the participatory research action framework. A designathon is a multistage process including an open call, a sprint event, and follow-up activities. The open call solicited Nigerian youths (14-24 years old) to develop intervention strategies for linkage to care and youth-friendly health services. A total of 79 entries were received; from this, a subset of 13 teams responded to the open call and was invited to participate in a sprint event over 72 hours. Narratives from the open-call proposals were analyzed using grounded theory to identify emergent themes focused on youth-proposed interventions for linkage to care and youth-friendly services. Results A total of 79 entries (through the web=26; offline=53) were submitted. Women or girls submitted 40 of the 79 (51%) submissions. The average age of participants was 17 (SD 2.7) years, and 64 of 79 (81%) participants had secondary education or less. Two main themes highlighted strategies for enhancing youths’ HIV linkage to care: digital interventions and collaboration with youth influencers. A total of 76 participants suggested digital interventions that would facilitate anonymous web-based counseling, text prompt referrals, and related services. In addition, 16 participants noted that collaboration with youth influencers would be useful. This could involve working in partnership with celebrities, gatekeepers, or others who have a large youth audience to enhance the promotion of messages on HIV self-testing and linkage. The facilitators of youths’ linkage included health facility restructuring, dedicated space for youths, youth-trained staff, youth-friendly amenities, and subsidized fees. Barriers to HIV linkage to care among youths included a lack of privacy at clinics and concerns about the potential for breaching confidentiality. Conclusions Our data suggest specific strategies that may be useful for enhancing HIV linkage to care for Nigerian youths, but further research is needed to assess the feasibility and implementation of these strategies. Designathons are an effective way to generate ideas from youths.

Peran Komunikasi Orang Tua terhadap Kesehatan Reproduksi pada Remaja

This study aims to examine whether parental communication in adolescent reproductive health services plays a role in encouraging adolescents to utilize sexual and reproductive health services. This research method uses Literature Review with JBI (Joanna Briggs Institute) Critical Appraisal. Family”, “Health Services,” “Reproductive Health,” Sexual and Reproductive Health.” The research results show that the influence of parents to be able to encourage access to reproductive health services is the lack of parental education, adequate family economy, living with parents, and the lack of facilities provided by the local government. In conclusion, teenagers must involve parents in sexual and reproductive health communication with adolescents because they can encourage youth-friendly health services and prevent sexual and reproductive health outcomes and harmful behavior among adolescent students.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Family, Reproductive Health, Sexual Health Reproductive Health, Sexual Health

Towards Achieving improved access to youth-friendly Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services in Cross River State (CRS) Nigeria; Sustaining Evidence-Driven Advocacy through the CRS SRHR policy.

Towards Achieving improved access to youth-friendly Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services in Cross River State (CRS) Nigeria; Sustaining Evidence-Driven Advocacy through the CRS SRHR policy.

Key informant perspectives on policy- and service-level challenges and opportunities for delivering adolescent and youth-friendly health services in public health facilities in a Nigerian setting

Key informant perspectives on policy- and service-level challenges and opportunities for delivering adolescent and youth-friendly health services in public health facilities in a Nigerian setting

Determinants of the utilization of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services in public secondary schools of Kogi State, Nigeria: an explorative study

BackgroundThis study explored the factors associated with the utilization of Youth-Friendly Sexual Reproductive Health (YFSRH) services among school-going Nigerian adolescents.MethodsThis cross-sectional study employed a mixed method involving school-going students attending five public secondary schools in Kogi State, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the patterns of utilisation of YFSRH services, whereas inferential statistics were performed to determine factors associated with utilization of YFSRH services. Qualitative data were analysed by thematic analyses of records using an inductive analysis.ResultsOne in two secondary school-going students had used the YFSRH services. Most of the participants had poor awareness of YFSRH services and limited access to YFSRH services. While gender positively predicted the utilisation of YFSRH services among secondary school-going students (aOR = 5.7; 95% CI: 2.4–8.95, p = 0.001), we found that age (aOR = 0.94; 95% CI: 0.67–0.99, p = < 0.001), and religious beliefs (aOR = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.77–0.93, p = 0.001) showed a negative relationship with the utilization of YFSRH services.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the influence of gender, age, and religion on utilizing YFSRH services. This study recommends the inclusion of sexuality education into secondary school-going student’s curricula, in order to create awareness about the benefit of utilization of sexual and reproductive health services, and this is to encourage young people to utilize the YFSRH services.