Barriers to Reproductive Health Services Among Female Youths of Suklagandaki Municipality in Western Part of Nepal

Abstract

Background: Youths have specific sexual health needs, which vary according to their age, sex, marital and socioeconomic status. The study aimed to explore the barriers to reproductive health services among female youths of Suklagandaki Municipality, Nepal. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted through in-depth interviews among female youths aged 14 to 25 and two focus group discussions among FCHVs and health workers in health post. Snowball sampling technique was used for sample selection carried out by a same-sex researcher. Results: The barriers identified were poor sexual health knowledge, fear and embarrassment, poor youth friendly health services, misconceptions regarding contraceptives and negligence about the problems. Conclusions: Prejudice regarding utilization of reproductive health services by youths has been identified a major contributing factor or barrier, which requires integrated effort from all sector to tackle this barrier.

Keywords

• Youths
• Reproductive health service
• Health care provider
• FCHV