Girls' access to adolescent friendly sexual and reproductive health services in Kaski, Nepal

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study is to explore the limitations to girls' access to adolescent friendly sexual and reproductive health services in public health institutions in Kaski, Nepal. Seven interviews with health workers and eight group interviews with adolescent girls are analysed using the conceptual framework of access to health care by Levesque, Harris, and Russell and an understanding of gender as embedded in all matters and choices concerning sexual and reproductive health. We find that girls demonstrate poor literacy about sexual and reproductive health, and that most challenges and barriers occur before girls reach health institutions. The strict gender norms, stigmatisation and lack of autonomy are the highest barriers for adolescent girls in seeking care. We find that health institutions are not adolescent friendly and have a passive outreach strategy.

Keywords

• access to health care
• adolescents
• girls
• Nepal
• sexual and reproductive health