UTILIZATION OF YOUTH FRIENDLY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN AREKA TOWN, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Youth friendly services are Services that are accessible, acceptable, and appropriate for them. Youth tend to be less informed, less experienced, and less comfortable in accessing reproductive health services than adults. Sexually transmitted infection affect 1 in 20 young people every year, most of them are curable but many infections left untreated. However, a little study done in Ethiopia previously focuses on specific Youth Friendly Reproductive Health Services and also there is no study done in Areka town (study area). Objectives: To assess the utilization of youth friendly reproductive health services and associated factors among secondary school students in Areka town, Sothern Ethiopia, from February 25 _ March 12, 2019. Methods: School based cross-sectional study design was conducted on 572 secondary school students with age between 15-24 years at secondary schools of Areka town. Simple random sampling method was used to select the study participants. Structured and pre-tested selfadministered questionnaire was used to collect data. Completeness and consistencies was checked and double data entry was done using Epi data version 3.1software and exported to the Statistical Package for Social Science version 20 for analysis. Adjusted odds ratio at 95% Confidence interval with p-value < 0.05 was estimated to identify the associated factors on multivariable logistic regression. Multi-Collinearity between independent variables and model goodness fit test was checked. Results: The magnitude of youth friendly reproductive health service utilization was [44.2%, (95% CI: (40.0-48.4)]. Having sexual experience (AOR: 14.72, 95%CI (2.41-89.79)], parental monitoring [AOR = 7.65, 95% CI (1.19-49.07)] and having good knowledge [AOR: 14.02 95% CI (9.34-21.53)] were factors independently associated with youth friendly reproductive health service utilization. Conclusion: In this study, the magnitude of youth friendly reproductive health service utilization is found to be low. Having Sexual intercourse experience, parental monitoring and having good knowledge were predictors of youth friendly reproductive health service utilization. Educational office in collaboration with multi media should provide information and create awareness on youth friendly service.