Factors Affecting Utilization of Available SRH Services by Youth Living on the Streets in Nakuru Town, Nakuru County

Résumé

Purpose: The access and utilization of sexual and reproductive health care is   a crucial concern surrounding the advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Making clinical services attractive to the younger generation has remained a challenge. Sexual and reproductive health services remains underutilized by the youth living on the streets. Unfortunately, this group is exposed to a very hostile environment on the streets, have highly mobile and unprotected lifestyle often resulting in early sexual debut, physical and drug abuse, sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies. Recent years have experienced a sharp rise of these youth on the streets. Toward the Kenya government goal of attainment of Universal health for all Kenyans, there is need to explore the unique SRH needs of this group. This study sought to investigate the factors affecting utilization of available SRH services by youth living on the streets.

Methods: A descriptive survey research study was done in Nakuru town.. Three core research tools were researcher administered questionnaire, group discussion and key informant interviews

Results: One hundred and eight study participants were recruited using cluster sampling from five sites identified

Conclusion: Demographic factors such as; parent’s type of occupation, having relatives in the streets, whether parents are employed or not, and youth’s level of education were associated with utilization of the SRH services. Economic factors like affordability of SRH services, costs charged by SRHF and Staffs in the health facility were associated with utilization of SRH services.

Recommendations: provision of information for YLOS on SRH need and the available SRH services to increase utilization, efforts should be made to establish and strengthen Youth friendly service Centre in Bondeni where a large number of the YLOS seek reproductive health services, and need to increase funding for reproductive e health services to these facilities so as all the services can be offered free of charge to the YLOS. This will further increase access and utilization as most of them do not have reliable sources of income.