Utilization, Determinants and Experiences of Youth-Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services Among Youth in Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A Concurrent Mixed-Methods Study
- 1University of South Africa - Muckleneuk Campus: University of South Africa
Abstract
BackgroundSexual and reproductive health (SRH) is essential for youth development, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where youth represent a significant proportion of the population. Despite global efforts to promote Sexual and Reproductive Health rights, many disadvantaged youths face barriers to accessing comprehensive information and services. Youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health (YFSRH) services are central to improving youth health outcomes. Despite national standards in Ethiopia, implementation challenges persist. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are key actors in promoting and delivering YFSRH services
MethodA concurrent mixed-methods design was employed among youth (18-24 years) and health care workers in Guraghe Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Quantitative data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, while qualitative data were gathered through key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 29, and qualitative data were analyzed thematically.
ResultAlthough youths showed strong interest in Sexual and Reproductive Health information, help-seeking was often delayed due to discomfort, secrecy, social pressure, and limited foresight. Utilization of youth-friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health services was constrained by distance, inconvenient service hours, limited privacy and confidentiality, perceived judgmental provider attitudes, and financial barriers, reducing trust and repeat use.
ConclusionImproving youth Sexual and Reproductive Health requires integrated actions across education, families, and health services. Strengthening multi-channel Sexual and Reproductive Health education with life skills and psychosocial support, alongside decentralized, affordable, confidential, and non-judgmental youth-friendly services, is essential.
Related
- Interpersonal Trauma, Marginalization, and Low-Resource Settings: Understanding Sexual and Gender Minority People’s Help-Seeking and Service Utilization Experiences
- Socioeconomic determinants of maternal and neonatal healthcare utilization among recently delivered women in Sudan
- Understanding Black Women’s Lived Experiences of Medical Mistrust and Trust in the Reproductive Care Setting: a nested sequential explanatory mixed methods study
- The mediating role of social determinants of health in the association between adverse childhood experiences and later-life cardiovascular disease
- High stakes, low information, no roads: a qualitative evaluation of determinants of air ambulance utilization and decision making in rural Alaska
BibTeX
@misc{nida2026utilization,
title = {{Utilization, Determinants and Experiences of Youth-Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services Among Youth in Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A Concurrent Mixed-Methods Study}},
author = {G. G. Nida and S. Khunou and D. Mphuthi},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.64898/2026.08.26.26361385},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.26.26361385v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Utilization, Determinants and Experiences of Youth-Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services Among Youth in Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A Concurrent Mixed-Methods Study
AU - G. G. Nida
AU - S. Khunou
AU - D. Mphuthi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/26
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.08.26.26361385
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.26.26361385v1
AB - BackgroundSexual and reproductive health (SRH) is essential for youth development, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where youth represent a significant proportion of the population. Despite global efforts to promote Sexual and Reproductive Health rights, many disadvantaged youths face barriers to accessing comprehensive information and services. Youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health (YFSRH) services are central to improving youth health outcomes. Despite national standards in Ethiopia, implementation challenges persist. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are key actors in promoting and delivering YFSRH services MethodA concurrent mixed-methods design was employed among youth (18-24 years) and health care workers in Guraghe Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Quantitative data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, while qualitative data were gathered through key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 29, and qualitative data were analyzed thematically. ResultAlthough youths showed strong interest in Sexual and Reproductive Health information, help-seeking was often delayed due to discomfort, secrecy, social pressure, and limited foresight. Utilization of youth-friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health services was constrained by distance, inconvenient service hours, limited privacy and confidentiality, perceived judgmental provider attitudes, and financial barriers, reducing trust and repeat use. ConclusionImproving youth Sexual and Reproductive Health requires integrated actions across education, families, and health services. Strengthening multi-channel Sexual and Reproductive Health education with life skills and psychosocial support, alongside decentralized, affordable, confidential, and non-judgmental youth-friendly services, is essential.
ER -