FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH UTILISATION OF SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN LUWERO TOWN COUNCIL LUWERO DISTRICT UGANDA

Abstract

A big proportion of adolescents in Luwero town council are not knowledgeable, and not supported by family in utilizing reproductive health services yet are sexually active so they are yet to face the results of not utilizing SRH services. This study assessed sexual and reproductive health service utilization and associated factors among adolescents aged 15-19 in Luwero town council Luwero district Uganda. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018. A sample size of 196 respondents was interviewed using structured questionnaire. The study found out that majority of respondents had low levels of knowledge about SRH (66.3%), while slightly above average had already started sexual activity/ engagement (56.1%). Majority of adolescents (64.8%) reported existence of negative health worker’s attitude, 64.5% of the respondents reported low family support and high levels of misconceptions (77.0%). Bivariate logistic linear regression indicated that knowledge levels, sexual activity, health workers’ attitude and family support were significant factors associated with adolescent utilization of SRH services with p < 0.05. The level of adolescent utilization of SRH services in the past six months was 29.1% which is still low and to mitigate this situation there is need to increase awareness about SRH services among adolescents, empower parents to freely talk to their adolescents about sexual issues and encouraging SRH service providers to have a positive attitude towards adolescents.