Assessment of access and utilization of adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health services in western Ethiopia

Abstract

Plain Language Summary Background Ethiopia is showing its enormous effort to improve the utilization of sexual and reproductive health services by adolescents and youths. But different factors are affecting it. This paper explains how many adolescents and youths are using sexual and reproductive health services and the factors affecting their utilization. Methods We interviewed 771 adolescents and youths aged 15 to 24 years in western Ethiopia. We asked them about the awareness and utilization of adolescents’ and youths’ sexual reproductive health services and the factors affecting their utilization. Results seven hundred seventy-one adolescents and youths were interviewed. Two hundred seventeen (28.1%) and 66 (8.6%) of them heard about and utilized adolescents' and youths' reproductive health services respectively. Those adolescents and youths who heard about sexual and reproductive health service practiced sexual intercourse and visited a health facility for other health services used sexual and reproductive health service more frequently. Conclusion Adolescents and youths who were using Sexual and reproductive health services were not many. Therefore, it better if the concerned bodies work on improving awareness and utilization of adolescents' and youths' sexual and reproductive health services.

Keywords

• Adolescents
• Youth
• Sexual and Reproductive Health Services
• East Wollega