Incidence and prevalence of reproductive health difficulties have been shown to be higher among younger people in the society. Preferences for youth friendly sexual and reproductive health services and facilities are very limited. This study examines youth assessment of youth friendliness of sexual reproductive health services and how it influences their services reproductive health services utilization. The study adopted both descriptive and analytical cross sectional survey designs. In all 170 youth aged 10-24 were sampled from the Kwadaso Sub Metro using multi-stage stratified random sampling techniques. Both Bivariate and Univariate analysis were conducted with Chi-square test of significance and Pearson moment correlation to establish relations and associations between and among variables of interest. The study found out that in 56.0% (84/150) of the 150 in-school youth had ever had a boyfriend/girlfriend with the majority 39.3%(33/84) not recalling the length of stay with partner whiles only 58% (87/150) have heard about sexual reproductive health services offered in the study area. In all 45.2% (77/170) of youth (10-24) had had sexual experience in life time. Among the in -school youth with sexual experience were 63(thus 42% of total) whiles out of school youth was 14(70%). A total of 69.9% (44/63) in-school youth had sexual intercourse in the last six months whiles only 35.7(5/14) out of school youth had sex in the last six months A total of 55.8% (95/170) of all categories of youth had used at least one or more reproductive health service in lifetime. However, a marginal 25.2% (43/170) of youth had used facility based sexual reproductive health services out of which 39% and 44% considered the services very friendly and friendly. There was statistically significant relationship between youth knowledge of the available sexual reproductive health service and reproductive health service utilization (X2=0.00, P≤0.05) and a strong positive correlation(r=0.5, R2=0.25). 25% of the relationship was explained by linear relationship. A stakeholder integrative and comprehensive approach is required scale up youth utilization of sexual reproductive health services especially facility based ones as friendliness is being improved upon and system barriers removed. This requires baseline survey of youth users of reproductive health services and the quality of services offered.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Problem statement
1.3 Objectives of the study
1.3.1 Specific objectives
1.4 Research questions
1.5 Research Hypotheses
1.6 Scope of study
1.7 Justification of the study
1.8 Significance of study
1.9 Definitions of Terms Used in this Research
1.9.1 Reproductive Health Services:
1.9.2 Youth-friendly reproductive health services:
1.9.3 Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Behaviours
1.9.4 Youth
1.9.5 Boyfriend/Girlfriend(s)
1.10 Organization of the Study
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction
2.1 Conceptual definition of Youth and Youth friendly reproductive Health Services
2.2 Youth Knowledge, Sexual Attitude and Practices concerning Sexual Reproductive Health Service Utilization
2.3 The Friendliness of Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Delivery to the Youth.
2.3.1 Static Facility Youth Friendly Sexual and Reproductive health Service Delivery
2.3.2 School and Community Youth Friendly Reproductive Health Service Delivery
2.3.3 Providing Youth Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Service through Peer Education and Counseling
2.4 Barriers that affect youth access and utilization of reproductive health facilities and services
2.5 Theoretical Framework
2.5.1 Conceptual Framework on relationship between youth friendly sexual reproductive health service and utilization of services.
2.5.2 Explanation of conceptual Framework
2.6 Interventions to improve Youth Friendliness of Sexual and Reproductive Health
2.7 Contribution to Knowledge and gaps in literature
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Population
3.3 Target population/Unit of analysis
3.4 Inclusion Criteria
3.5 Exclusion Criteria
3.6 Sample Size Determination and Sampling Procedure
3.7 Methods and Techniques
3.7.1 Pre-testing of Data collection Instruments
3.7.2 Data handling
3.7.3 Data Analysis
3.7.4 Qualitative Analysis of Interviews
3.7.5 Validity and reliability
3.7.6 Ethical considerations
3.7.7 Limitations of the study
3.7.8 Field Problems
3.8 Research Setting
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION OF RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.0 Introduction
4.1: Descriptive background information on research participants.
4.2 Youth Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) Concerning Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Utilization in the Kwadaso Sub Metro District.
4.2.1 Gender and sexual relationship
4.2.2 Sexual Attitudes of youth
4.2.3 Gender and sexual experience
4.2.4 Educational levels and Service Utilization
4.2.5 Relationship between sexual attitude and practices and utilization of sexual and reproductive health services
4.2.6 Awareness of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services
4.2.7 Sexual Education, Knowledge and reproductive Health needs of Youth
4.3 Youth Assessment of Youth Friendliness of Sexual Reproductive Health Services Delivery
4.3.1 Assessment of friendliness of Facility- based Sexual and Reproductive Health Services
4.4 Barriers to Sexual Reproductive Health Service Utilization by Youth.
4.5 Hypothesis Testing
4.6 Discussion of Results
4.6.1: Knowledge, Awareness and Practices (KAP) concerning Sexual and Reproductive Health
4.6.2: The Friendliness of Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Delivery to the Youth
4.6.3: Barriers that affect youth access and utilization of reproductive health facilities and services
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.0 Introduction
5.1 Summary of findings:
5.1.1: Youth Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) concerning Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Utilization
5.1.2: Youth Assessment of Youth Friendliness of Sexual Reproductive Health Service Delivery
5.1.3: Barriers to Sexual Reproductive Health Service Utilization faced by the youth
5.2 Conclusion
5.3: Recommendations:
5.4 Areas for future research
Research Objectives & Core Themes
The study aims to assess the youth friendliness of sexual and reproductive health service delivery and its relationship with service utilization among youth in the Kwadaso Sub-Metro district of Ghana. The core research focus is to determine if current service delivery models effectively meet the specific biological and psychosocial needs of young people (aged 10-24) and to identify the barriers hindering the uptake of reproductive health care in this demographic.
- Youth knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding sexual and reproductive health.
- Assessment of facility-based and non-facility-based youth-friendly services.
- Identification of barriers affecting access and utilization of reproductive health facilities.
- Evaluation of the impact of provider training and service environment on youth engagement.
- Analysis of the relationship between awareness, satisfaction, and service revisit intentions.
Excerpt from the Thesis
1.1 Background of the study
The WHO Regional Advisors meeting in Geneva (2000) defined reproductive health as a "a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes”. Reproductive health can be extended to mean situations where people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so.
Implicit in the definition are the rights of men and women to be informed and have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice. The right of access to other methods of their choice for regulation of fertility, which are not against the law, and the right of access to appropriate health-care services that will enable women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth and providing couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant are not left out in the definition. Another dimension to reproductive health is sexual health, the purpose of which is the enhancement of life and personal relations, and not merely counseling and care related to reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases.
It is estimated that 85% of the world's young people live in developing countries where poverty levels remain high and resources are constrained (Kersterton & Cabral de Mello,2010). In the presence of such glaring picture, most will become sexually active before their 20th birthday. The common factors that are characteristic of this group are the high rates of early and unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, maternal deaths and injuries, and sexually transmitted infections (STls), including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (Kersterton & Cabral de Mello,2010 ).
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: Provides the research overview, defining reproductive health concepts, establishing the problem statement in the Kwadaso Sub-Metro, and outlining the study objectives, hypotheses, and scope.
CHAPTER TWO: Reviews existing literature on youth-friendly reproductive health services, global and local challenges, theoretical frameworks (Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory), and identified gaps in research.
CHAPTER THREE: Details the research methodology, including the cross-sectional survey design, sampling strategies (stratified random sampling), data collection instruments, and ethical considerations.
CHAPTER FOUR: Presents the primary empirical findings and discussions on youth knowledge, attitudes, practices, barriers to service utilization, and hypothesis testing.
CHAPTER FIVE: Summarizes the key findings, provides final conclusions on the study and offers specific recommendations for policy improvement, stakeholder involvement, and future research.
Keywords
Youth, Reproductive Health, Service Utilization, Kwadaso, Sexual Health, HIV/AIDS, STI, Youth Friendly Services, Adolescent Health, Contraception, Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, Peer Counseling, Ghana, Service Delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research fundamentally focuses on evaluating how friendly and accessible sexual and reproductive health services are for youth (aged 10-24) within the Kwadaso Sub-Metro District in Ghana, and how this affects their usage of these services.
What are the central themes discussed in this work?
Key themes include the biological and psychosocial reproductive health needs of young people, the impact of provider attitudes and facility environments on access, the role of education and peer counseling, and the influence of societal norms on health-seeking behaviors.
What is the primary objective of this thesis?
The primary objective is to assess the youth friendliness of service delivery to better understand the factors that drive or hinder reproductive health service utilization, and to propose evidence-based interventions for improvement.
Which scientific methodology was employed?
The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, utilizing both quantitative data (structured questionnaires for in-school youth) and qualitative data (semi-structured interviews with out-of-school and affiliated youth) to provide a comprehensive analysis.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers a comprehensive literature review of global and local reproductive health perspectives, an in-depth research methodology section, and a detailed presentation and discussion of survey results regarding youth knowledge, sexual attitudes, and barriers to access.
How is the study grounded theoretically?
The research is grounded in the Health Belief Model, focusing on individual perceptions, and the Social Cognitive Theory, which examines how environmental factors and social interactions influence the ability of young people to adopt healthier sexual behaviors.
What specific demographic does this study target?
The study targets the youth population (aged 10-24 years) in the Kwadaso Sub-Metro district, further categorized into in-school, affiliated (apprentices), and unaffiliated (street-involved) youth to ensure representative insights.
What does the study conclude about the influence of provider attitude?
The study finds that while overall satisfaction with provider attitude is relatively high among those who use services, unfriendly or judgmental staff remains a significant barrier for those who choose not to access reproductive health facilities.
What is the recommended approach for improving service utilization?
The author recommends an integrated stakeholder approach, including the provision of specialized youth centers, intensified community outreach, the use of ICT for education, and the active involvement of parents, religious leaders, and school authorities.
- Citation du texte
- Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah (Auteur), 2015, Balancing youth friendliness of sexual and reproductive health service delivery and service utilisation among Ghanaian youth, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/303576
