Sexual Reproductive Health Challenges and Health-Care-Seeking Behaviour Among Children Who Live on the Streets in Harare

2021 ◽  
pp. 002190962110439
Author(s):  
Nelson Muparamoto ◽  
Tsitsi Batsirai Chakanya ◽  
Isabel Shamu

Drawing on interviews and focus group discussions with 26 participants aged between 10 and 17, the paper describes sexual reproductive health problems, health-seeking behaviour, access to and utilisation of sexual reproductive health services among children living on the street in Harare. An intersectionality approach showed how participants’ social location, age and gender created vulnerabilities leading to STIs, maternal complications and sexual violence among others. Additionally, these factors contributed to challenges in accessing sexual reproductive health services among children living on the street. Thus there is need for tailor-made interventions to influence better health outcomes among children living on the street.

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 95-108
Author(s):  
Shanti Prasad Khanal

 The present study aims to examine the multi-level barriers to utilize by the youth-friendly reproductive health services (YFRHS) among the school-going youths of the Surkhet valley of Nepal. This study is based on the sequential explanatory research design under mixed-method research. The quantitative data were collected using the self- administered questionnaire from the 249 youths, aged between the 15-24 years, those selected by using random sampling. The qualitative data were collected using the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) from the 12 participants who were selected purposively. The study confirmed that school-going youths do not have appropriate utilization of YFHS due to multi-layered barriers. However, the utilization of the service was higher among females, those the older age group, studying in the upper classes, the upper castes, and married youths. The key findings and themes are recognized as multi-layered barriers including personal-level, health system-level, community-level, and policy-level on the entire socio-ecological field. Among them, the existing health system is the foremost barrier. Multi-level interventions are, therefore, required to increase the YFRHS utilization and improve concerns for school-going-youths.  


2020 ◽  
pp. 105984052095043
Author(s):  
Karen E. Johnson ◽  
Kathryn L. Conn ◽  
Cynthia Osborne ◽  
Kelly L. Wilson ◽  
Lynn Rew

We compared sexual/reproductive health services and sexuality education topics provided in Texas alternative high schools (AHSs) with the prevalence of sexual risk behaviors among students in AHS. Using cross-sectional data from convenience samples of 14 principals, 14 lead health educators, and 515 students, we calculated descriptive statistics for 20 services and 15 sexuality education topics provided by AHSs and seven sexual risk behaviors among students in AHS. AHSs provided few sexual/reproductive health services and limited educational content, despite high levels of sexual risk taking among students. For example, no AHSs taught students about proper condom use, yet 84% of students have had sex. Findings provide preliminary evidence of unmet needs for school-based sexual/reproductive health services and comprehensive sexuality education in AHS settings. Future investigation with larger, representative samples is needed to assess the provision of sexual/reproductive health services and sexuality education in AHSs and monitor sexual risk behaviors in the AHS population.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pacifique Ndayishimiye ◽  
Roseline Dzekem Dine ◽  
Aline Dukuze ◽  
Isabelle Kubwimana ◽  
Jean Baptiste Nyandwi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: A fifth of the global population is made up of adolescents. Sexual reproductive health needs for young people is largely ignored by existing health, education and other social programs. In Rwanda, there is still an increase in teen pregnancies, HIV/ STIs as well as reports on the lack of access to accurate SRH information. The study aimed to explore the perceptions and barriers toward sexual reproductive health services accessibility, availability and quality among adolescents in the second cities of Rwanda.Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in six selected cities of Rwanda. In-depth interviews were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires among 121 adolescents aged 10-19 years old living in six selected cities.Results : Majority of the participants were female 62.8% and aged between 15-17 years old 32.8%. Females adolescents were more aware, and adolescents with primary school level 62.5% were not aware about SRH services provision at health facilities. Adolescents were mostly aware about the availability of HIV testing and circumcision services at 102 ( 86.4%). Results indicate that utilization of SRH services remains low (34.7%) among adolescents. A recent utilization of a particular service was linked to a use in the past: “I am aware of my HIV status because I was tested when I was going to receive a transfusion at a hospital” (Female participant, Rwamagana). Family, socio-cultural, religious influences and lack of privacy, high costs for the services, unavailability of some services at private facilities as well as lack of comfortable separated rooms, were the barriers reported by adolescents that prevented them from utilising SRH services.Conclusion : Accessibility to SRH services for adolescents remains low and SRH services provision doesn’t offer confidentiality to adolescents who seek services at health facilities. Family influences, socio-cultural stigma and religious barriers remain a burden to adolescents’ SRH services utilization. Increasing community outreach and adolescent’s engagement is needed to enable access to accurate SRH information. Multidisciplinary stakeholders should collaborate and cooperate to address the stigma associated with access to SRH services for adolescents.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Kurebwa

This study seeks to understand the capacity of adolescent-friendly reproductive health services (AFRHS) in promoting sexual reproductive health (SRP) among adolescents in Bindura Urban of Zimbabwe. The data collection methods used allowed the researcher to get insight on adolescents' experience and the factors associated with their accessing SRH services from AFRHS, the meaning of AFRHS for adolescents, healthcare providers' attitudes towards adolescents seeking SRH services, and community perceptions and readiness to accept AFRHS. The findings showed that both socio-cultural and health facility factors influence utilisation of SRH services. Many of these factors stem from the moral framework encapsulated in socio-cultural norms and values related to the sexual health of adolescents and healthcare providers' poor value clarification. This study provides an empirical understanding of the reasons and factors associated with SRH service utilisation, which goes much deeper than program provision of AFRHS in Zimbabwe.


2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayesha Kharsany ◽  
Mukelisiwe Mlotshwa ◽  
Janet Frohlich ◽  
Nonhlanhla Zuma ◽  
Natasha Samsunder ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Christopher Hook ◽  
Karen Hardee ◽  
Tim Shand ◽  
Sandra Jordan ◽  
Margaret E. Greene

Background: Evidence shows that, to reach global goals related to women and girls’ access to modern family planning (FP) and gender equality, it is critical to understand and account for the role of men and boys as users of reproductive health services, as partners for millions of women & girls around the world, and as advocates in their communities. Under the Family Planning 2020 (FP2020) partnership, countries were encouraged to develop costed implementation plans and action plans in an effort to provide 120 million additional women and girls with contraception. As FP2020 becomes FP2030, reviewing these previously-developed strategies helps understand the extent to which countries considered the engagement of men as an important aspect of their family planning portfolios. Methods: We conducted textual analysis on commitments and implementation plans related to achieving FP2020 commitments in seven countries in Africa and one in Asia to determine the extent to which male engagement was incorporated into country or subnational family planning goals, with particular focus on FP policy, program, and financial commitments.  Results: Some of the documents analyzed included robust plans for including male engagement in their efforts to expand access to FP.  The strongest aspects of male engagement programming were those that sought to engage men as advocates for women’s access to and use of FP services, and improve men’s knowledge and attitudes related to contraception and reproduction. The weakest aspects were engaging men as users of services and, vitally, tackling underlying gender norms which hamper men’s and women’s health-seeking behaviors and attitudes. Conclusions: Developing FP programs that target men and boys as people deserving of reproductive health services, as partners with women in building their families, and as social activists in their communities, will complement and strengthen existing FP programs as well as promote broader goals related to gender equality.


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