Nkonde-Bwalya, Barbara (2016) Factors Affecting Access to and Utilisation of Reproductive Health Services among Adolescents in Lusaka District: Case Study of Kamanga Compound. Masters thesis, University of Zambia.
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Abstract
Sexual and reproductive health is part of physical and emotional well-being of all human beings. Adolescents globally have unique sexual and reproductive health needs and accompanying vulnerabilities. Many adolescents face sexual health risks of early sexual debut, sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, unplanned pregnancies and illegal abortions. The general objective of the study was to identify factors affecting access to and utilisation of reproductive health services among adolescents in Lusaka District. Specific objectives were: 1. To assess gender variations in adolescents’ knowledge and utilisation of reproductive health services. 2. To find out factors affecting access to and utilisation of reproductive health services. 3. To identify measures to improve access to and utilisation of reproductive health services among adolescents. The study sample comprised 200 respondents. Data collection was done by carrying out structured face-to-face interviews with 180 adolescents, interview guides were used to collect data from 3 focus group discussions comprising 6 adolescents each and 2 key informants (health service providers). Quantifiable data were coded and analysed using SPSS to generate frequency tables and percentages, whereas qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. This study has established that there are gender gaps in knowledge and utilisation of RHS among the adolescents in Kamanga Compound. For instance, the study discovered that more girls than boys were aware of specific types of RHS including family planning methods. It was discovered that more (23.9%) male than female (21.7%) had utilised family planning methods. The findings further revealed that more (26.4%) female than male, (25.3%) adolescents had received RHS. At the same time, the study noted that dispite the gender gaps, the level of access and utilisation of RHS among adolescents was low for both sexes. Reasons for low utilisation of RHS included shortage of health services providers, and lack of adolescent-friendly services, adolescents’ preference for service providers of the same sex, age difference between adolescents and the service providers, distance to the health facility and lack of transport; lack of specific consulting rooms for adolescents and non-confidential condom outlets, lack of services like lifebuoy soap atChelstone Clinic for male adolescents undergoing male circumcision, and judgmental attitude among health providers. Drawing from the lifespan theoretical concepts, the study concluded that there existed a service gap in provision of adolescent RHS. Adolescents continued to be socially excluded from accessing and utilising RHS. The study therefore, recommended for scaling up of adolescentfriendly services; use of brochures and youth magazines to increase awareness of available services for adolescents and sensitisation of health providers, parents/ guardians, communities and key stakeholders about RHS for adolescents; Use mobile service provision within the Community by the Ministry of Health in order to address the problem of distance faced by adolescents, regular training and in-servicing of health providers to effectively serve adolescents with emphasis on adolescents’ rights to confidential and comprehensive RHS. This study further recommended for a study on a similar topic to be carried out on a larger scale so that the results could be generalised to the rest of the country.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RT Nursing R Medicine > RZ Other systems of medicine |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | Geoffrey Obatsa |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Dec 2018 10:13 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Dec 2018 10:13 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/7809 |
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