TITLE:
Youth friendly health services and role of outreach activities to improve access to services
AUTHORS:
Ruchi Sogarwal, Murari Chandra, Sunil Mehra
KEYWORDS:
Youth Friendly Health Services; Reproductive Sexual Health; Adolescent; India
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Preventive Medicine,
Vol.3 No.2,
April
29,
2013
ABSTRACT:
An attempt has been
made to assess the Youth Friendly Health Services (YFHS) from the clients’
perspectives and the role of outreach community-based approach (Youth
Information Center, YIC) in improving access to services. A cross- sectional
study was undertaken in Arajiline and Hoskote blocks in Varanasi and
Bangalore districts respectively using primarily a quantitative technique. A
consecutive sample of 120 clients from 4 selected clinics was interviewed after
seeking services from YFHS. Additionally, facility assessment of clinics and 8
FGDs were conducted among community members and the young people in the
community. Majority of the clients (90.8%) are aware that YFHS provide services
to young males and females separately on specific day and time. Nearly 66%
clients visited YFHS to sought treatment for three key health problems i.e. menstruation problems (25.4%) followed
by general illness (22.8%) and swelling/itching of private parts (21.1%). In Hos- akote privacy was maintained during
the con- sultation with the doctor, however, situation was relatively not
better in Arajiline. Out of those
clients who had visited YIC atleast once, 49 out of 53 in Arajiline and 51 out of 60 in Hasokote reported that the YIC staff/activities had motivated them to sought services
at YFHS. Study concludes that while majority of the clients were satisfied with
the services at YFHS, there is a need for strengthening the existing “package”
of the services. At facility level, reassurance about the privacy and
confidentially and alternative ways to promote access and utilization of services
by active involvement of young people is recommended. On the other hand, at outreach
level, new technologies should be introduced to generate demand, intensive
focus on adults in the community and integration of YIC with local governance
and school environment is suggested so as to protect young people against
poor health outcomes.