Determination of Predictors for Acceptance and Recommendation for Sexual Reproductive Health Services among Young People in the Western Region of Kenya

Abstract

Acceptability of Sexual Reproductive Health (SHR) services to young people is when all services are made available (availability factor), at an affordable cost (affordability factor), opening and closing hours are convenient for young people (8.00 am and after 5-00 pm and weekend), privacy and confidentiality are guaranteed, adequate time spent with services providers and availability of prescribed drugs (health facility factors). Availability, affordability, and health facility factors are tailored for young people to ensure their retention in the SRH services seeking routine and recommendation of these services to other young people to improve health outcomes. The contribution of these three factors to increase the acceptability and willingness of young people to recommend SRH services to others varies among young people and thus affect SRH service uptake. The purpose of this study is to determine among the three factors which one(s) predictors of acceptability and wiliness of young people to recommend SRH services to others. The study utilised an analytical cross-sectional study design in 29 sub-locations, five Sub counties in the Western Kenya region targeting young people aged 10-24 years. Descriptive statistics were used to describe participation by age, gender, and education level. Tests of association and correlation were used to test if the factors of availability, affordability and health facility factors affect acceptability and young people recommending the SRH services to others; binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess the magnitude of the relationship between availability, affordability, and Health facility factors on recommending SRH services to others. Ages 15-19, female and secondary school levels utilised more services than the rest. More than 3/4 of the young people received SRH without any payment. 91% who did not pay and 83% who paid said they would recommend the facility to a friend. The majority (62.31%) waited >less than or equal to 30 minutes before being attended to. A majority (94%) were given adequate time to explain themselves. The majority (96%) noted that the satisfaction level of privacy and confidentiality was acceptable. The majority (98%) noted that the satisfaction level of opening and closing hours was acceptable and slightly more than a half (57%) noted drug availability to be acceptable. An ordered logistic regression was utilised to assess the influence of availability and affordability of health services received and health facility factors among young people. Overall, the model significantly explains 24.87% of the young people’s acceptability level to SRH services at p=0.000. Of the three factors, availability of services and Health facility factors were the most significant (p=0.000) influencers of young people’s accepting SRH services sought and received. Conclusion health facility factors influence the acceptability and willingness of young people to recommend SRH services to other young people more than affordability and availability.