Publications

In Uganda, only 19% of adolescents utilize adolescents’ reproductive health services yetcomplications of pregnancy, abortions, and childbirth are the leading cause of disability anddeath among the same age group. The purpose of this study was to assess factors that werecontributing to the low utilization of adolescents’ reproductive health services. Aquantitative cross-sectional study employed simple random sampling among 85 adolescentsthat were attending Kampala international university outpatient clinic. Results found out thatmajority 46(53.4) of adolescents were aged from 15-16 years, 46(53.4%) were male, 28(32.5%)were Catholics most 81(94.1%) were single. 18(36%) had got the information from theirfriends, 28(56%) of adolescents said that the information about adolescents' reproductivehealth services was not freely shared in their communities and 33(66%) said that theircommunities did not accept adolescents sexual reproductive health services where 7(50%)gave a reason they expected to be young to have sexual intercourse. 43(86%) of adolescentswere from within 1-5km, 28(73.8%) mentioned lack of privacy at the facility, and 30(79%) saidthat health workers segregated adolescents that needed similar reproductive health services.In conclusion, factors that were contributing to the low hindering utilization of adolescents’reproductive health services were both demographic, socio-economic, and facility related.