UTILIZATION OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG ADOLESCENT FEMALE STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOLS OF CHIRO TOWN,WEST HARARGE ZONE, OROMIA REGION, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Globally, reproductive health service utilization among adolescent girls is one of the most important public health issues especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. Due to poor utilization of reproductive health service, female adolescent girl students are highly at risk of getting sexual transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and school dropout. However, there is limited information about utilization of reproductive health service and associated factors among adolescent girl students in Ethiopia including the study area. Objective: To assess the status of utilization of reproductive health service and associated factors among female adolescent students in high schools in Chiro town, West Hararge Zone, Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia from Feb10- March 02, 2018. Methods: A School-based cross-sectional study design using quantitative method was used among randomly selected 386 female adolescent students in high schools in Chiro town. Data was collected by face-to-face interview using a standardized, structured data abstraction format. Data was entered using EpiData Version 3.1 and then exported to statistical package for social science version 20.Analysis was done through description, bivariable and multivariable logistic regression. Possible associations and statically significance between variables was measured using crude and adjusted odds ratio, P value less than 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Result: The level of utilization of reproductive health services among female adolescent students was 38.6%. Females having boy friend [(AOR=0.56, 95% CI: (0.33, 0.96)], availability of health facility [(AOR=4.23, 95% CI: (2.64, 6.76)] and knowledge about reproductive health service [(AOR=2.62, 95% CI: (1.26, 5.46] were significantly associated with utilization of reproductive health service of female adolescent students. Conclusion: Reproductive health service utilization among female adolescent student was 38.6%. Female adolescents who had relationship with boy friend, availability of health institution to get reproductive health service and knowledge about reproductive health services were factors that were found to have association with utilization of reproductive health service. Recommendation: In order to strengthen the service utilization, Chiro town health office, family guidance association in Chiro branch and chiro town health extension workers should collaborate in a way it is possible to increase access and quality of reproductive health service