Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice toward Youth-Friendly Reproductive Health Services among Mizan-Tepi University Students, South-Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Background. Youth-friendly reproductive health services are designed to meet the unique needs of young individuals. Nevertheless, in developing countries such as Ethiopia, knowledge, attitude, and utilization of these services are very limited. This study was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and utilization of youth-friendly health services and associated factors among students. Method. A public university-based cross-sectional study was conducted between October and January 2019. Participants were chosen from the target group using a simple random selection procedure. To find the factors linked to youth-friendly health services, researchers used descriptive analysis, the chi-square test, and a logistic regression model. Result. This study revealed that 237 (55.4%), 256 (59.8%), and 262 (61.2%) students had no knowledge, negative attitude, and not practiced youth-friendly reproductive health services, respectively. The binary logistic regression results revealed that male students were more likely to have knowledge and practice (AOR = 1.847; 95% CI: 1.124, 3.034; p = 0.015 ) and (AOR = 1.821; 95% CI: 1.114, 2.975; p = 0.017 ) respectively; however, they had less likely positive attitudes (AOR = 0.519; 95% CI: 0.315, 0.856; p value = 0.010) compared to female students. Students from primary and above educated families were more likely to have knowledge, attitude, and practice compared to students from uneducated families. Conclusion. Overall, students’ knowledge, attitudes, and utilization of youth-friendly reproductive health services were poor. As a result, additional efforts, such as the availability of service providers and the improvement of facilities, as well as education linked to the service for young people and the allocation of appropriate service time, are required.

Utilization of Voluntary Counseling and Testing Experience among Mizan-Tepi University Students in Southwestern Ethiopia

“…In this study, of all participants, only 42.5% experienced the voluntary counseling and testing services. is result is almost similar to the study conducted in the same area prior to this study [28,29] [30]. However, this result is lower than the prevalence of VCT utilization study conducted in the Debre Markos University by 58.5% [27] and the study done in the Northwestern parts among the university students by 61.8% [31].…”

“…In this study, of all participants, only 42.5% experienced the voluntary counseling and testing services. This result is almost similar to the study conducted in the same area prior to this study [ 28 , 29 ], higher than the prevalence of VCT utilization study conducted in the West Gojjam Merawi Preparatory school Ethiopia by 31.5% [ 1 ], Debre Birhan students training College by 35.19% [ 17 ], Bahir Dar University by 37.8% [ 16 ], and Addis Ababa University by 38.6% [ 30 ]. However, this result is lower than the prevalence of VCT utilization study conducted in the Debre Markos University by 58.5% [ 27 ] and the study done in the Northwestern parts among the university students by 61.8% [ 31 ].…”

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices About Youth-Friendly Reproductive Health Services Among Students at Medicare Health Professionals College, Mengo. A Cross-Sectional Study.

“…This is probably because respondents had heard about these services from various sources including the internet, hospitals/clinics during their clinical practice, and even at the institution since they were incorporated in some of their fields of study. This is contrary to a study done in Ethiopia, (Getachew, 2022) where the overall level of knowledge of respondents was poor, 237(55.4%) did not know about youth-friendly health services and never had about youth-friendly health services(YFHS). Most, 44(37.9%) of the respondents had heard about HIV counseling and testing while only 6(5.2%) knew of postabortion care services.…”

Intervention to Improve Menstrual Health Among Adolescent Girls Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior in Iran: A Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial

“…Adolescence is a stage in which individuals reach sexual maturity [1] and undergo major changes in various aspects of development, including physical, social, and emotional development [2]. Puberty is a transitional period between childhood and adulthood, a stage of rapid growth in which remarkable pISSN 1975-8375 eISSN 2233-4521 physical, psychological, and social changes occur [3].…”