Factors associated with utilization of adolescent sexual and reproductive health services among secondary school students in Kilosa Town, Morogoro

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background The utilization of sexual and reproductive health services improves the health status of the population, especially adolescents. However, there is underutilization of services in this population, and that the factors associated with utilization are not adequately studied in Kilosa town adolescent’s population. Objective To determine factors associated with the utilization of adolescent sexual and reproductive health services among secondary school students in Kilosa town, Morogoro. Materials and methods A secondary school-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 560 adolescents were interviewed using Swahili self-administered questionnaires after the necessary informed consent procedures. All four (4) schools in Kilosa town were included in the study. A purposive sampling technique was used to select study participants until the required sample size of 560 was reached. The collected data were cleaned, coded, entered, and analyzed using the SPSS version 24 Windows program. Descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariable regression analysis with 95% confidence interval were carried out and P-value less than 0.05 determined a significant association between variables under the study. Results A total of 560 school students were recruited into the study, 29.6% of students were less likely to utilize Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Services. Ever heard of SRHS (AOR: 0.412(0.252-0.676),never discussed SRHS (AOR: 0.231(0.116-0.457), ever had sex (AOR: 0.021(0.010-0.043), being female (AOR: 0.498(0.344-0.920), being Muslim (AOR: 0.656 (0.342-0.997), students not living with their parents(AOR: 0.074 (0.007-0.921), Students, whose fathers were not alive (AOR: 0.668(0.450-993), college and above education level of the fathers (AOR: 0.576(0.081-0.986), Students with business and Government employed mothers(AOR: 0.348 (0.151-0.801) and (AOR: 0.309 (0.148-0.648) and School students, whose fathers were businessmen(AOR: 0.188 (0.060-0.591) were factors strongly associated with less likely utilization of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Services. Conclusion This low service utilization might make students prone to different reproductive health risks; which in turn can increase the school dropout rate, and has an impact on an individual’s future life as well as the country’s youth health policy from meeting its goal. Therefore, it needs a great effort and attention of all the concerned bodies including parents, school staff, and health professionals to improve service utilization in schools.