Abstract:
Background: Youth friendly health service is a promising approach to delivering health services to meet the Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) needs of young. Quality of health services for adolescents and youth is challenged by inadequacy of infrastructure including equipment and supplies, health workers’ incompetence and lack of compassion and respectful services. In this regard, improving the quality of adolescent youth-friendly health services reduces the high burden of morbidity and mortality of adolescent and youth. However, there is paucity of evidence in the study area.
Objective: To assess the quality of youth friendly sexual reproductive health services and associated factors in Abrhajira district public health facilities, Amhara National Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023.
Method: A facility-based cross-sectional study design with mixed approach was employed from May to July 2022 in Abrhajira district public health facilities with a total of 450 clients were interviewed, five key informants were interviewed and thirty-four client-provider interactions were observed. The study participants for quantitative part were selected by using systematic sampling. Multi-variable logistic regression was used to identify the predictor variables associated with client satisfaction. Adjusted Odds Ratio with 95%CI, and p-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistically significant variables. The qualitative information was recorded using tape recorder and transcribed in Amharic. The transcribed data were also translated to English language, and thematic analysis was done.
Result: the overall quality of adolescent and youth-friendly health service was 50.8% with structural, process and output quality of 55.1%, 47.7% and 49.6% respectively. Residence (AOR; 0.43, 95% CI; 0.28, 0.68), having own income source (AOR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.24, 2.81), experience of youth-friendly service visit (AOR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.69, 3.89) and exempted service (AOR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.45 were factors statistically associated with client satisfaction (output)
Conclusion: The overall quality of AYFHS was found to be poor quality and needs urgent improvement. Rural residence, having own income, experience of youth-friendly service visit and exempted AYFH service were statistically associated with client satisfaction. Hence, Abrahajira district health facilities should secure the availability of logistic of commodity for better service provision and providers should adhere to national youth-friendly health service guideline
