Background: Adolescents are still getting pregnant and contracting Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Rwanda as elsewhere. Quality and comprehensive SRH services and information for adolescents is valuable for adolescents' wellbeing. This study aimed at understanding SRH services providers' viewpoints on accessibility, availability, and quality of SRH services provided to adolescents in selected cities of Rwanda. Method: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted between May 2018 and May 2019 in six selected cities of Rwanda using a mixed-methods approach. A checklist was used to collect data from 159 conveniently selected SRH services providers. The survey tool was validated. SPSS version 20 was used to describe quantitative data and ATLAS TI version 5.2 was used to code and analyze the qualitative data thematically. Results: Qualitatively, health care providers reported that the availability of adolescent SRHS are satisfactory with access to accurate SRH information, contraceptive methods, prevention and management of STIs and HIV services, and counselling. However, the accessibility of some services remains limited. According to respondents, some products such as female condoms are less in demand and often expire before they can be distributed. One nurse clarified that they render services at a low price if an adolescent has insurance medical coverture. Religious leaders and family members may hinder adolescents from health-seeking behavior by promoting abstinence and discouraging use of protective means. Quantitatively, we found that 94.3% of health facilities provide information to adolescents on SRH services that were available and 51.6% affirmed delivering services at a low cost. Only 57.2% of respondents mentioned that adolescents are involved in designing the feedback mechanisms at their facilities.

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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.