Interpersonal Relations Between Health Care Workers and Young Clients: Barriers to Accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health Care

Abstract

Interpersonal relations between health care providers and young clients have long being cited as an important element for improving client up take of services, satisfaction and overall health outcomes. In an era of HIV and AIDS this forms a critical determinant to young people accessing sexual and reproductive health care. This study explores to what extent interpersonal relations form a barrier to young peoples access to and satisfaction of health services. The study draws on data from 200 client exit interviews and four in-depth interviews conducted with university students and university health care staff in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. While young people are aware of the importance of utilising STI, HIV and family planning services they experienced barriers in their relationship with providers. This served as a deterrent to their use of the health facility. Adequate training in interpersonal relations for youth-friendly service provision is essential in helping overcome communication problems and enabling providers to interact with young clients at a more personal level.

Adolescent and young pregnant women at increased risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and poorer maternal and infant health outcomes: A cohort study at public facilities in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan district, Eastern Cape, South Africa

“…Eligible women were referred to start ART at dedicated ART clinics at these facilities, and delays among younger women may have been related to challenges that particularly affect that age group, including concerns over confidentiality, social stigma [19] and interpersonal relational barriers with healthcare workers. [20] By the time of delivery, smaller proportions of young women were receiving ART, and for shorter durations of time. In contrast, older women were more likely to start ART before becoming pregnant, and started ART more rapidly during pregnancy.…”

Learners’ perspectives on the provision of condoms in South African public schools

“…Learners reported that access to SRHR-services are compromised by the continued value-laden judgements and stigmatisation by gatekeepers namely educators, health workers and parents, especially for girls (Alli et al, 2013;Francis & DePalma, 2014;Gwandure et al, 2014) and subsequently replicated by peers. Consequently, learners regarded respect, privacy and confidentiality as prerequisites for the provision of condoms and SRHR-services in schools.…”

“…Announcement of the draft policy raised public concerns about increased sexual activity and early sexual debut (Han & Bennish, 2009), learners' psychosocial wellbeing and conflicting personal, religious and cultural views (Gwandure, Ross, & Gardner, 2014;Alli, Maharaj, & Vawda, 2013;Francis & DePalma, 2014). This study aimed to inform the draft policy by exploring learners' perspectives on SRHR-service provision in schools.…”

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“…This inclines lack of access to comprehensive HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services, which ultimately leads to incapability of women to control their sexual health and reduce their risk of HIV infection. It is worth mentioning that even in the societies where women are able to access HIV and SRH services, stigma and discrimination against STI/HIV create additional barriers for them to exercise their reproductive and sexual rights [18]. A multi-level analysis of women's empowerment and HIV prevention by reveals that HIV prevalence is positively correlated with indirect indicators of women's empowerment related to their education [19].…”