Utilisation of Youth-Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services among High School Students in Yirgalem Town, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Introduction: Youth are very vulnerable to different negative consequences of sexual and reproductive health problems. Investigating different factors that affect reproductive health service use among youth would help to promote youths’ health status, and tackle related consequences from the root. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the utilization of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services and associated factors among high school students in Yirgalem town, Ethiopia.
Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 254 youth. A structured, pretested, and self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Info Epi data 3.1 and SPSS version 22 were used for data entry and analyses, respectively. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was done. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was calculated to determine the presence and strength of association among independent and outcome variables. A P-value of <0.05 was used to consider statistical significance.
Results: The magnitude of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health service utilization was 30.6% [95% CI (25.2, 35.9)]. Age 20-24 years [AOR=3.98, 95% CI (1.68, 9.43)], discussing reproductive health issues with parents [AOR=4.35, 95% CI (2.28, 8.31)] and with peers [AOR=1.31, 95% CI (1.02, 3.62)] were predictors positively associated with utilization of youth reproductive health services.
Conclusion: The magnitude of youth reproductive health service utilization was low and resulted in risky sexual practices and bad consequences. Thus, devising evidence-based interventions could better address the problem and prevent the avoidable causes and consequences of misutilization.
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