Evaluation of the Provision of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services to Young People in Wagai and Karemo Divisions, Siaya County, Kenya

Abstract

Barriers related to the availability, acceptability and accessibility of sexual and reproductive health services (SRH make it difficult for young people to access and utilize (SRH) hence exposing them to unintended pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. The study evaluates the provision of SRH services to young people in Karemo and Wagai divisions, Siaya County. It uses a cross-sectional design and focus group discussions to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 168 adolescents aged 15-19 years, 41 service providers and 23 health facilities. Findings showed that none of the 23 selected health facilities provided all 21 essential SRH services and only 30% provided more than 80% of the essential SRH services. FGD participants reported that lack of services, personnel, facility environment, and marketing and provider attitude are barriers to SRH services. Eighty percent respondents said the facilities' environment, waiting area and location were welcoming, comfortable and convenient. Some 90% boys' and 98.3% girls' respondents said they would visit the facilities once more for similar or related services. The study recommended training of service providers focusing on their biases towards adolescent SRH services and, improvement of facility environment and marketing of available services.