Factors Influencing Access to Reproductive Health Information Services among Young Aged 15-24 in Garissa Municipality, Kenya

Abstract

Young people face severe threats to their health and general well being. They are vulnerable to sexual assault and prostitution, too-early pregnancy and childbearing, unsafe abortion, malnutrition, female genital cutting, infertility, anemia, and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) including STIs and HIV/AIDS (NCPD, 2006). Close to a half of women aged 15-19 in Kenya are sexually active and by age 20-24 years, almost all (90%) are sexually exposed, and that 84% of the women aged 15-19 are single girls, then a large proportion of never-married girls are in their sexually active period (KDHS,2003).

This study was designed to look into demographic, economic, cultural, health factors and the knowledge, attitude and practices influencing the access to Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) information services amongst the youth of Garissa.  The qualitative and quantitative data were collected through structured face to face interviews, focus group discussions and key informant. Data was analyzed using SPSS (version 17). The data from the qualitative methods were analyzed by using the thematic framework analysis. Independent variables influencing the access to SRH information among the youth were determined using multiple logistic regressions.

In conclusion the overall access to SRH information by the youth in Garissa Municipality was low and was mostly influenced by the economic factors, cultural, religious and societal norms that marginalize the youth and the overall lack of access and programs to address youth friendly SRH information. To address the challenges in the access to youth friendly reproductive health information in this setting it is our recommendation that improve the Clinical services to offer the youths with Contraceptive and STI prevention services, antenatal, perinatal, and postnatal care, STI diagnosis and treatment and lastly empower youths with RH and rights and HIV information and life skills education through community outreach programmes.