scholarly journals Social-cultural Determinants of Gender Differential in Access and Utilisation of Reproductive Health Services among Male and Female Youths in Ndeiya Division, Limuru Sub-County, Kenya

Author(s):  
Eunice Mugure Ngugi ◽  
Mildred Lodiaga ◽  
Grace Okong’o
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (04) ◽  
pp. 20416-20429
Author(s):  
Barbara N. Bwalya ◽  
Thankian Kusanthan

Adolescent sexuality and reproductive health has become a global concern in the recent past. Many adolescents face sexual health risks of early sexual debut like sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, unplanned pregnancies and illegal abortions. The present study was undertaken to examine gender differential in access to and utilization of reproductive health services among adolescents in Lusaka, Zambia. Data was collected by carrying out structured face-to-face interviews with 180 adolescents. Interview guides were used to collect data from 3 focus group discussions comprising 6 adolescents each and 2 key informants (health service providers). This study has established that there are gender gaps in knowledge and utilisation of RHS among the adolescents. The study discovered that more girls than boys were aware of specific types of RHS including family planning methods. It was further discovered that more (23.9%) males than females (21.7%) had utilised family planning methods. The findings further revealed that more (26.4%) female than male (25.3%) adolescents had received RHS. At the same time, the study noted that despite the gender gaps, the level of access and utilisation of RHS among adolescents was low for both sexes. Reasons for low utilisation of RHS included shortage of health services providers, and lack of adolescent-friendly services, adolescents’ preference for service providers of the same sex, age difference between adolescents and the service providers, and distance to the health facility. The study recommended scaling up of adolescent-friendly services; use of brochures and youth magazines to increase awareness of available services for adolescents and sensitisation of health providers, parents, guardians, communities and key stakeholders about RHS for adolescents.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kifle Lamade ◽  
Teklemichael Gebru Tesfaye ◽  
Admas Berhanu ◽  
Membere W/tsadik

Abstract Background The risky behaviors of youngsters or youths may further be worsened by the logic that university students are too many in number, lack facilities for sexual and reproductive health services and live away from their parents and free from parental control. To tackle the issue, evidence based intervention like improved access for youth’s friendly reproductive health services is crucial. In Ethiopia, despite the fact that much has been said about sexual and related issues of higher institution students, the assessment of the problem is not widely covered and search for solutions is mostly after the problem become deep-rooted. So, the purpose of this study was to assess the level of risky sexual behaviors among Wolkite University (one of the public higher institute) students. Methods A facility based cross-sectional study was employed using Cluster sampling to identify 1,123 students’ from each college, departments & sections of the colleges in the University, list of clusters (groups) was established with area of study and year of study. To select these clusters, list of cumulative frequencies of number of students was calculated. The total sample size was divided proportionately to the selected clusters and to both sexes (male and female). Accordingly, males and females were selected based on percentages calculated. Finally, a systematic sampling method was applied to select males and females from the cluster selected for the study after dividing the cluster in to male and female groups. Result In this emerging university ever use of substance reportedly was somewhat higher than a quarter, 28.7% (322) from a total of 1123 students. Among students reported ever use of substances, alcohol consumption was the predominant one, 157(14.0%), followed by khat, 57 (5.1%). Conclusion and recommendation The institute needs substantial progress in availing youth friendly reproductive health services as huge number of the youngsters, 225(20%) had risky sexual behavior and currently 7(1.5%) were HIV positive. Moreover, services for youths should be friendly and available with skillful professionals. This can be realized through the effort of tremendous stakeholders in the compound and elsewhere in the country like ministry of education/health or non-governmental organizations.


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 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-62
Author(s):  
D. N. Parajuli

 Reproductive rights are fundamental rights and freedoms relating to reproduction and reproductive health that vary amongst countries around the world, but have a commonality about the protection, preservation and promotion of a woman‘s reproductive health rights. Reproductive rights include the right to autonomy and self-determination , the right of everyone to make free and informed decisions and have full control over their body, sexuality, health, relationships, and if, when and with whom to partner, marry and have children , without any form of discrimination, stigma, coercion or violence. The access and availability of reproductive health services are limited due to geography and other issues, non-availability and refusal of reproductive health services may lead to serious consequences. The State need to ensure accessibility, availability, safe and quality reproductive health services and address the lifecycle needs of women and girls and provide access of every young women and girls to comprehensive sexuality education based on their evolving capacity as their human rights, through its inclusion and proper implementation in school curriculum, community-based awareness program and youth led mass media. It is necessary for strengthening compliance, in a time-bound manner, with international human rights standards that Nepal has ratified that protect, promote, and fulfill the basic human rights and reproductive health rights in Nepal and also need to review standards and conventions that Nepal has had reservations about or those that have been poorly implemented in the country.


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