INTENTION TO USE YOUTH FRIENDLY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN EAST BELESA, USING THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR, 2022

Abstract

Abstract Background: The reproductive health of youth has become a major public health concern. The utilization of youth friendly services is low among Ethiopian school youths. Intention is the best predictor of behavior. However, there is no study done on the area which assesses the intention of the school youths to use youth friendly services. Therefore, this study is aimed to assess intention to use youth friendly services and associated factors among secondary school students in East Belesa. Objectives: This study was aimed to assess intention to use youth friendly services and its factors among secondary school students in East Belesa district, using the Theory of Planned Behavior, 2022. Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among 512 secondary school students. Data was collected using structured self-administered questionnaire from May 23 to June 12, 2022 in East Belesa district. Stratified random sampling technique was used. Data was entered using EpiData version4.6 and analyzed using STATA version 14. The results of the descriptive statistics were summarized using mean, standard deviation, percentages, frequency tables and graphs. Standardized ? and R 2 values were used to interpret effects and variability with intention to use youth friendly services respectively. Simple and Multiple linear regression analysis were performed. In multiple linear regression analysis, Statistical significance was declared at a p-value of <0.05 with 95% confidence interval. Result: A total of 511 respondents participated in the study giving a response rate of 99.8%. Around half of the participants were males (52.8%). The variance explained by all predictors was 40%. The mean score of intention to use youth friendly services was 3.39±1.14 with a minimum of 7 and maximum sore of 35. More than half (55.6%) scored above the mean score. Direct perceived behavioral control (? = 0.25, 95%CI: 0.05, 0.45), subjective norm (? = 0.28: 95%CI: 0.09, 0.47), attitude (? = 0.20; CI: 0.03, 0.36), educated mothers (? = 1.65, 95%CI: 0.21, 3.09) and female sex (? = -1.77; 95% CI: -3.10, -0.44) were significant predictors of intention to use youth friendly services. Conclusion and recommendations: the magnitude of intention to use youth friendly services was low. Perceived behavioral control, attitude, subjective norm, educated mothers and sex were the predictors of intention to use youth friendly services. The study informed that the theory of planned behavior could be used for educational programs focusing mainly on creating supportive social environment to use youth friendly services. Key words: youth, youth friendly reproductive health services, theory of planned behavior, intention