Factors influencing utilization of reproductive health services among adolescents aged 12-19 years in Mbarara Municipality Schools
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Date
2016-10
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, School of Health Sciences
Abstract
Complications of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion are the leading causes of disability and death among adolescents especially girls between ages 15-19 years. The study focused on assessing the factors influencing the utilization of Reproductive Health Services among adolescents aged (12-19 years) in Mbarara Municipality schools. A sample of 100 respondents was enrolled in the study using systematic random sampling. A cross sectional descriptive study design was used in two Government Aided Secondary Schools that is; Nyakayojo secondary school and Mbarara secondary and a simple random sampling technique was used to select schools and class for the study. The study indicated mass media (31.8%) as a major source of information about RHS. Most adolescents indicated that they faced huge barriers including long distances to travel to health facilities while incurring high transport costs, harsh service providers, spending long hours in lines and lack of confidentiality also inclined them from accessing RHS thus causing them to miss some of these reproductive health services. Therefore service providers extend operational time beyond official working hours, have good attitude towards adolescents who are seeking RHS and should provide privacy. The Government should also increase the number of health units offering RHS to adolescents which can reduce on congestion, long queues and travelling long distances thus attracting more adolescents
Description
A research report submitted to Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examinations Board in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Diploma in Nursing Sciences
Keywords
Reproductive health services utilization, Adolescents aged 12-19 years, Mbarara Municipality Schools