Attitude of Health Care Providers towards Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review

The aim of the review was to synthesise the best available evidence regarding attitude of health care providers towards adolescent sexual and reproductive health services in developing countries. The review was conducted following qualitative research method. An online search of Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), British Nursing Index (BNI), EMBASE and MEDLINE databases was conducted to identify relevant studies for the review. There were nine studies that met the inclusion criteria and these were critically assessed by two independent reviewers using the standardised Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal forms. Data were extracted using the standardised JBI data extraction forms. A narrative synthesis was done on the findings. Key findings from the review indicate that unprofessional attitude of health care professionals and lack of youth friendly reproductive health services, inhibit adolescents from gaining access to sexual and reproductive health services in developing countries. It is recommended that youth friendly reproductive health services be provided to increase uptake of re-productive health services by adolescents.

KEYWORDS

Adolescents, Reproductive Health, Systematic Review, Access to Health Services, Qualitative Studies, Barriers, Attitudes, Developing Countries

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Cite this paper

Chilinda, I. , Hourahane, G. , Pindani, M. , Chitsulo, C. and Maluwa, A. (2014) Attitude of Health Care Providers towards Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review. Health, 6, 1706-1713. doi: 10.4236/health.2014.614203.

References

[1]	UNFPA (2010) Improving Reproductive Health Services. http://www.unfpa.org/rh/services.htm

[2]	Bearinger, L.H., Sieving, R., Ferguson, J. and Sharma, V. (2007) Global Perspectives on the Sexual and Reproductive Health of Adolescents: Patterns, Prevention, and Potential. Lancet, 369, 1220-1231. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60367-5

[3]	Mulye, T.P., Park, M.J., Nelson, C.D., Adams, S.H., Irwin, C.E. and Brindis, C.D. (2009) Trends in Adolescent and Young Adult Health in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45, 8-24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.03.013

[4]	World Health Organisation (2008) Unsafe Abortion. Global and Regional Estimates of the Incidence of Abortion and Associated Mortality. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241501118_eng.pdf

[5]	Fitzpatrick, E. and Walton-Moss, B. (2011) Barriers to Emergency Contraception for Adolescents. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 7, 282-286. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2010.07.003

[6]	Speizer, I.S., Magnani, R.J. and Colvin, C.E. (2002) Qualitative Research in Nursing. Advancing the Humanistic Imperative. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, New York.

[7]	Wood, K. and Jewkes, R. (2006) Blood Blockages and Scolding Nurses: Barriers to Adolescent Contraceptive Use in South Africa. Reproductive Health Matters, 14, 109-118. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0968-8080(06)27231-8

[8]	World Health Organisation (2011) Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers. Evidence-Based Guidance Developed through Worldwide Collaboration. John Snow, Inc., Baltimore.

[9]	Steward, B. (2004) Writing a Literature Review. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67, 495-500.

[10]	Popay, J., Roberts, H., Sowden, A., Petticrew, M., Arai, L., Rodgers, M., Britten, N. and Duufy, S. (2006) Guidance on the Conduct of Narrative Synthesis in Systematic Reviews.

[11]	Wood, K. and Jewkes, R. (2006) Blood Blockages and Scolding Nurses: Barriers to Adolescent Contraceptive Use in South Africa. Reproductive Health Matters, 14, 109-118. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0968-8080(06)27231-8

[12]	Langhaug, L.F., Cowan, F.M., Nyamurera, T. and Power, R. (2003) Improving Young Peolpe’s Access to Reproductive Health Care in Rural Zimbabwe. AIDS Care, 15, 147-157. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0954012031000068290

[13]	Koster, A., Kemp, J. and Offei, A. (2001) Utilisation of Reproductive Health Services by Adolescent Boys in the Eastern Region of Ghana. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 5, 40-49. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3583196

[14]	Agampodi, S.B., Agampodi, T.C. and Piyaseeli, U.K.D. (2008) Adolescents Perception of Reproductive Health Care Services in Sri Lanka. BMC Health Services Research, 8, 98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-8-98

[15]	Regmi, P., Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, P. and Acharya, D. (2010) Barriers to Sexual Health Services for Young People in Nepal. Journal of Health Population Nutrition, 28, 619-627. http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jhpn.v28i6.6611

[16]	Khalaf, I., Fathieh, A.M. and Froelicher, E. (2009) Youth Friendly Reproductive Health services in Jordan from the Perspective of the Youth: A Descriptive Qualitative Study. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences.

[17]	Kipp, W., Chacko, S., Laing, L. and Kabagambe, G. (2007) Adolescent Reproductive Health in Uganda: Issues Related to Access and Quality of Care. International Journal of Adolescent Health, 19, 383-393.

[18]	Hung, S.L. (2010) Access to Safe and Legal Abortion for Teenage Women from Deprived Backgrounds in Hong Kong. Reproductive Health Matters, 18, 102-110. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0968-8080(10)36527-X

[19]	Haddad, L.B. and Nour, N.M. (2009) Unsafe Abortion: Unnecessary Maternal Mortality. Reviews in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2, 122-126.

[20]	Lindberg, C., Lewis-Sprill, C. and Crowner, R. (2006) Barriers to Sexual and Reproductive Health Care: Urban Male Adolescents Speak Out. Issues in Comprehensive Paediatric Nursing, 29, 73-88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01460860600677577

[21]	Ministry of Health and Population Malawi (2003) Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections Using Syndromic Management Approach. Guidelines for Service Providers, 2nd Edition, NAC, Lilongwe.