Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Utilization among Adolescents in a Girls Secondary School in Enugu Metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60787/tnhj.v24i3.866Keywords:
Adolescents, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Services, UtilizationAbstract
Background: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for adolescents is critical for facilitating their physiological, cognitive, emotional, and social transition into adulthood. This study assessed SRH utilization and associated factors among adolescents in Queens School, Enugu state, Nigeria.
Method: A cross-sectional descriptive survey among 324 female students at Queens School, Enugu, selected through simple random sampling technique from a population of 2,120 adolescents. Data collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.762 was analysed using descriptive, inferential and logistic regression analysis.
Result: Only 11 (3.4%) of the adolescents had ever gone to a health facility for SRH needs, mainly private hospitals (45.5%). In the last six months, only 3 (0.9%) visited a health facility. The major reasons for health facility visit were to test for pregnancy (45.5%) and counselling (45.5%). Assumption of not having any SRH issue (82.3%, n=267) was the main reason for non-utilisation. Age (p =0.14), class of study (p =0.32) and pocket money source (p =.044) were associated with utilisation of SRH service. Age (p =0.14) and being sexually active (p =0.001) significantly predicted utilization of SRH services. The odds of utilizing services increase 2 times for every 1-year age increase [OR =2.0; 95% C.I.=1.15-3.48]; and increase about 14 times for an adolescent that have once engaged in sex [OR =14.29; 95% C.I.=2.98-68.54].
Conclusion: Utilization of sexual and reproductive health services is very low among the respondents. Targeted interventions and strategies for improving SRHS utilization are required among adolescents to optimize their SRH.
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