AWARENESS OF YOUTH-FRIENDLY SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AMONG YOUTHS IN OREDO AND UGBEKUN COMMUNITIES, NIGERIA

Abstract

Youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services (YFSRHS) are critical to improving adolescents’ and youths’ sexual and reproductive health outcomes. However, limited awareness of such services continues to hinder their utilization in many low and middle-income settings. This study assessed the level of awareness of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services among youths in Oredo and Ugbekun communities and examined strategies for improving awareness and utilization. A mixed-methods approach was adopted. Quantitative data for the needs assessment were collected from 426 proportionately sampled and consenting youths drawn from the two purposively selected communities. Qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews with healthcare providers and community members. Furthermore, a quasi-experimental design involving intervention and control groups was implemented, using 152 proportionately sampled youths selected from the initial needs assessment sample. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze quantitative data, while thematic analysis was applied to qualitative responses. Findings revealed low to moderate awareness of YFSRHS among youths prior to intervention, with significant gaps in knowledge of service availability, confidentiality, and youth-specific service components. Post-intervention results indicated a statistically significant improvement in awareness among youths exposed to the intervention compared to the control group. The study concludes that targeted, culturally appropriate interventions can substantially improve youth awareness of YFSRHS and recommends strengthening community-based and facility-level youth engagement strategies.